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The Ghost reached out a white hand, forming it into claw-like shape and turning the wrist. The ghost still had a connection to Itachi's soul from before, and it was just as easy to twist it now as it had before.

The Ghost said nothing, merely walked over to Kitaria, tiny bare feet carefully nagivating through the rubble. The Ghost kicked Itachi's dagger away.

Kit staggered aganst the wall. It seemed the only thing keeping her upriht was he own force of will.

"Athame," the Ghost whispered.

Kit opened her mouth, but all that came out was a gurgle of blood.

The ghost turned its blank mask to Itachi an released Itachi's soul. Slowly, it reach up and unfasioned its maks letting it fall to the floor. Beneath the mask was the pale face of a girl. She looked no older than Kazuhiko. A single tear leaked from her grey eyes.

The Ghost ignored Po-ar and turned back to Kitaria, who finally lost her ability to stand. The woman slid down the wall, leaving a thick trail of blood.

The ghost stepped forward and drew a white-handled dagger, mirror to Kitaria's own (the same knife she had used on Pixel) except for the color.

"Hey," Fir interrupted weakly, still cradled in Pixel's lap. "A Boline only shows their face when they're about to die. Have some respect, Itachi."

The ghost did not seem to hear, but drew closer to Kitaria and raised her dagger until it was hovering right over the woman's heart.

Kit merely looked up at the knife. If any emotion showed in her face it was resignation and perhaps, a bit of relief.

Shiori froze; she hadn't even heard him creep up.
She never had really been a fan of Aled to say the least.
"Um... arigatou, Ou-sama..." she blinked a few times, looking up at him.
Damn, she had heard he was tall, but suddenly she was very aware of the height difference between them.
"But tell me, why exactly should I be praised? I'm simply trying to make money." she snapped. "It's not exactly as easy as you nobles make it look."
Ah, hatred of the rich.
"So what's your real reason for coming over here?"

Kaguyo quickly stepped up to help him, polishing his plans where his script was a bit messy.
But not too much. This was Ainsu's project, she couldn't take that from him.
She admired his devotion and hard work.
Once she had the plans basically grasped, she started directing people around, putting all her energy towards making Ainsu's dream a reality.
What a woman. Despite all of her shortcomings, her mistakes, her betrayals, there was no doubting her allegiance now. Even if she wasn't Oujou anymore, she hardly noticed.
He knew, because despite directing progress, she was watching Ainsu more than the people, glancing back with a shy, warm smile.
She utterly adored him.


Eara shook her head. "Look, Fir, you're right---we love you---but shut the ******** up." she scolded him harshly, her voice taking on two tones. She was speaking through Badb, but the flash in her eyes was all too familiar. "We need to heal you."
The tattoos grew stronger, as did the spark in her eye, the woman quietly and diligently working on his wounds. "You have won my admiration again, little Prince." she spoke, actually morbidly amused. "I knew you would train the children, but sacrifice... To enter battle, knowingly going towards death.... Such bravery does not escape my eye unnoticed, little one."
She almost smirked, his healing quickly increasing.
"Hi sis.." Morrigan whispered, wide-eyed.
"You have work to do." she warned, almost glaring.
Morrigan nodded a few times. "I know, I will. Don't you worry about that, things have been a bit hectic lately...."
Kazuhiko was now working on healing Kit. "Look, woman, you're ******** stupid sometimes," he started, well aware Po-ar was in the same room, "But you can't die because of Herne. But I sure as hell am never taking you here again if you can't behave young lady." he scolded harshly, draining the poisoned blood. "I'm not your parent and I sure as hell shouldn't have to act like it! You either play nice or you don't play at all! You got that???"
It was going to be a rough process, but he couldn't deny his responsibilities to her. "I'm really, REALLY mad at you Kit-Kat." he warned, glaring at her. "You're lucky this world needs you and I care about it more. You really, really, really, really made me mad, Kit-Kat, and we're not going to be friends anymore. Not until I know you're really, really, REALLY sorry." he snapped.
The boy was hardly a few months old and he was already trying to lay down the law!
His father and grandfather's son.
"Now, do I make myself clear??" he shook his head angrily. "I love you, but you make me so mad sometimes!"
He ignored Itachi outright, because he didn't know or really like her, but that was ok by him.
He had things more important to worry about.

Pixel frowned at Fir and wiped her eyes. "I still say you were a ******** idiot."

Fir flashed them all a smile. "Damn, what I do now that I'm not a first rate coward?"

He turned his gaze back to Kit.

"STOP!" The ghost yelled, grabbing Kazu's arm. It was the first word she had said that was not a name.

"Kazu..." Kitaria chocked. "It's too late. All my blood has been contaminated. You'd have to drain it all. Save you're energy for Fir."

Strangely enough, it did give Ainsu a strange sort of pride.
He was more than happy to be the object of Kaguyo's affections, mainly because she was the only on in the world that he truly cared so much for.
Never had he had a friend so close as Po-ar... but never, in his entire life, had anyone, not even Po-ar himself, ever garnered undying devotion.
Kaguyo was his and his alone... and Ainsu wondered, not for the first time, if he was truly worthy of her.

~ ~ ~

"I say I hardly blame them, or you." Aled replied calmly, without so much as a hint of torn pride.
But her words had struck deep.
"Fourteen houses, you say? And how much exactly, does each of those houses pay, I wonder?"

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