On a Mission

[SoulofDarkness]

Ian nodded and picked his brother up, resting him over his shoulder as his hollow mask disintegrated. He glanced at Daelyn sadly, "I know..." He sighed, "I didn't want my brother to go through this... You know, I remember him now. Not everything, but I began to have flashbacks of my childhood, ever since I fought my hollow in that cave. We really were close..."

He glanced down at Kazuma, his eyes gentle, then began walking silently back toward the house.

[Kurorin]

Daelyn smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
“I’m glad you remember…” she whispered.

Jun turned around only to be shot with an arrow in her shoulder. She yanked it out giving a small scream. She was farther behind than she thought. She saw the archer aim at Kazuma. Jun quickly move so that her back was to the archer. Seven arrows were shot at her. She looked at Ian and Daelyn.
“Run. Now. Don’t look back.” Blood ran down her back and dripped to the ground.

[SoulofDarkness]

Kazuma was trapped inside his mind. Or rather, he had chosen to stay there. Away from it all. Away from her. The only person who had the power to break his heart. He shivered at the thought, how could he let someone have that kind of power over him?

Suddenly, he felt a rock drop inside his stomach. Something wasn't right. He felt like he was going to be sick as uneasiness settled into him. What was that he smelled? It was... Blood. Somehow, he could smell blood. He glanced around his inner world, wondering what was going on. But there was nothing.

The hollow noticed it as well. It activated the hunger within him almost instantly. He could tell, it was her. The only one who could satiate him.

Ian glanced down at Kazuma as white material began to cover his brother. "What... is that?" Then the body disappeared.

Kazuma appeared over Jun, fully transformed, his eyes still half closed in unconsciousness. A low growl ripped from his throat as he lunged at her attacker wildly.

[Kurorin]

Before Kazuma could attack, the archer shot one last arrow at Jun. the arrow hit Jun in the back, making her fall to her knees and fall forward in what seemed like slow motion before she hit the ground. Her eyes slid closed and her breathing slowed as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Tears rolled down Daelyn’s face in terror.
“We have to get her back to the house… before anything else happens….” She sniffed.

[SoulofDarkness]

Kazuma's mouth opened slowly, and a huge blast of red energy ripped from it, disintegrating everything in front of him. Then he collapsed to the ground; his drive had finally run out and unconsciousness claimed him once more as his body returned to normal.

Ian remained motionless, watching the scene with wide eyes. What had his brother just become? He had never seen anything like it. He glanced back to Dealyn, and seeing her tears, he touched her cheek gently with his hand. "It's okay... Let's bring them back now, they'll be fine..." he said in a soothing voice.

[Kurorin]

Daelyn nodded and wiped her tears away. She kneeled down next to Jun and started to take out the arrows carefully. When she was done, she stood up and used her force field to pick up Jun and place her on Daelyn's back. Daelyn's was strong and if she could, she could carry Ian if she wanted to.

[SoulofDarkness]

A gentle breeze ruffled Ian's hair as he knelt by his brother's still form once more. He reached his hand toward Kazuma's face, but paused, almost as if the slightest touch might break him. A pressured sigh escaped his lips as he finally looped his right arm under his brother's torso and lifted the unconscious body over his shoulder. Then he stood up slowly.

He tilted his head back to gaze upon the wreckage that had taken place, and silently examined the charred ground, the splintered debris that was all that was left of the trees that had once covered the area. It looked like a bomb had struck. In some ways, what really had happened was worse than a bomb. Yes, beings such as Kazuma and himself, hollows, were living weapons. They existed only to kill.

With that thought in mind, Ian turned back to Daelyn, a somber expression on his face, and walked past her slowly, the added weight causing no change in his posture. Then he continued on toward the house silently.

Kazuma's head rested on Ian's shoulder limply, but a small trace of a smile could be seen on his sleeping face. Even in unconsciousness, he knew... The two people he cared the most about were safe. For now.

[Kurorin]

Daelyn disappeared before appearing in front on the house. Katsumi stood at the door.
"What happened?" he questioned.
"Long story. Do your best to fix her. If you don't Kazu-kun will have your head." she said. Katsumi nodded and took Jun, bringing her into his room. It was all white, nothing abnormal, all neat and only one picture of the Kurosaki's. He put her on her stomach and started to work on Jun.

Daelyn left a note on the door for Ian.

Went out to think.
Find me.
I want to talk to you.

Love, Daelyn

Then Daelyn disappeared, sitting in front of a lake. Her knees were pressed up against her chest. She watched the water. She sighed and closed her eyes, falling asleep quickly.

[SoulofDarkness]

With a steady hand, Ian silently dropped the note on the counter and he started up the stairs. Up to the second floor, down the hall, his brain didn't register any of it. Not until he stood at the foot of his bed did he come to his senses. He glanced once more at his brother's sleeping form, then leaned over the bad and gently laid him on top of it. Now to find Daelyn, he thought.

He closed the door silently behind him, and and headed down the stairs at a fast walk. He already knew where she was, he could feel it. He stepped through the front door and into the sunlight, the only proof he had been there the sleeping figure on his bed.

Ian stood behind Daelyn, and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Hey..." he whispered as he slouched into a sitting position next to her quietly.

[Kurorin]

Daelyn groaned and didn't reply. She wanted to sleep.
"Leave... me alone Ichigo... I don't want to go to the beach..." she groaned in her sleep.

[SoulofDarkness]

Ian chuckled slightly and leaned his head against her shoulder. "It's me," he whispered into her ear as he wrapped his arm around her.

Kazuma groaned slightly in his sleep, his body turning restlessly. Deep within his mind, he was so confused about what to do. He had thrown away his emotions, but he still cared about her. Why was that?

"That's why I'm here," came the cold voice of his hollow, "I can make you forget..."

[Kurorin]

Daelyn leaned back into his arms.
"Ian...?" she smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled her head in his chest.
"I... really... want to.... make out with you..." she said. She had no no idea what she said.

Katsumi finished bandaging Jun and went up to where Kazuma was. He opened the door and smiled.
"Do you want to see Jun. I know your almost fully awake.' he said.

[SoulofDarkness]

Ian raised an eyebrow as he watched her. He tightened his arm around her and chuckled, "Somehow, I don't think you're fully awake."

Kazuma opened one eye slowly, and pushed himself back on the bed to prop his head against the headboard. He looked at Katsumi groggily, "I can't..." he croaked, his voice raspy. He had killed all those people, had become the kind of monster Jun was meant to kill. He couldn't face her now.

[Kurorin]

"Why not? It seems she still loves you." he said folding his arms.

Daelyn smiled.
"Yes I am..." she yawned and rubbed her eyes.

[SoulofDarkness]

Ian smiled and leaned over her, brushing his lips against the top of her head. "Are you sure?" he joked.

Kazuma shook his head slowly, "I can't. I can't let her love me." He curled his fingers around the torn collar of his shirt and pulled down, revealing the X he had cut into his own skin. He watched it silently; he had exposed it more for himself to see than for Katsumi.

"Answer me, Kazuma..." The voice continued in his head, "Would you like to forget?"