Welcome to Gaia! ::

Once in the bed, Shun felt Mitsu cling onto his arm. Looking at the girl for a moment, his expression softened. He would let her latch on. There was no way he was going to be prying her off.

Turning his attention back to Xiu, he blinked as she started to make a number of motions. He kinda got that she wanted to talk or something like that but beyond that... she lost him.

The Reaper stared at her for a few moments before shrugging and laying down onto the bed, ready to try and get some sleep again. There wasn't really anything else he could do right now.

Just seeing Xiu walk off, Shun settled down while rolling onto his side for the moment to face Mitsu. Being as close as he was, he could make out the details of her face a little better but it was mostly a blur to him still. Gently, he brushed his free hand against the side of her face, then closed his eyes to drift away.

--------
((and down the rabbit hole we go))
It took a little while, but eventually Shun's dreamspace began to build. There was nothing particularly extravagant about this one as it looked just like his room. He was still on the bed, but there was one slight difference. The reaper sat upon it instead, with Mitsu curled up against him; her head upon his lap.

Nothing was really going on, and it just seemed that he was watching over her as she rested.

There was a fairly soft expression on Shun's face as he lightly petted the sleeping girl. Though, he soon looked up towards Xiu as he heard her walk in. For a moment, he furrowed his brow before nodding quietly. He might have seemed a little tense for a moment, but he soon relaxed. Or tried to.

"I have. I'm no master, but it's a start in the least..." he said, "So what brings you here?"

Ah yes, communicating this way would be a lot easier. This was really the first time since he first got injured that he could speak normally with another. Shun couldn't help but frown though as Xiu mentioned Mitsu's injuries and he found himself staring down at the wolfgirl sleeping in his dream. Between that and the question, his mood seemed to have darkened some.

It wasn't just his expression. Did the room itself just darken?

"It's getting better yes," he murmured, "And thank you again for taking care of Mitsu earlier.."

"Such a worthless boy..."

Shun closed his eyes and shuddered as the voice echoed through the area.

"You should leave soon if you can. I.. don't always have full control of my dreams," he said quietly.

"Do you think you can protect her? You couldn't even tend to her wounds.."

Shun kept his eyes closed as he was trying to focus on keeping the dream under his own control.

"There's nothing that you'd be able to do about this I think," he said quietly while trying to focus. The room seemed to gradually grow more dim, however.

"But there's even less than you could do. You're an even greater fool if you think you have power."

"Kuso... Xiu get out of here. I appreciate you coming in to check up on me but I can't..."

The Reaper's words were cut off as a black blur suddenly whisked by. Mitsu was no longer on his lap, as a cloaked figure held onto the now-awake girl. In his free hand, a large blue and gold scythe appeared. There was little doubt on who this newcomer was.

"MITSU!"

"Think you can save her? Help her? Go on. Just try. See how powerless you truly are."

Now on his feet, Shun had summoned his daggers before glancing towards Xiu. She was right. This was his dream. There were things he could do in this world that he couldn't normally.

"Alright. Though you should still try to leave.. or at least stay out of the way. Things will probably get a little messy," he warned the Baku. He didn't know what would happen if she got caught up in crossfire, if anything.

Narrowing his eyes at the cloaked hunter, he stomped his foot down towards him, sending wooden spikes jutting up towards the other. Just as it seemed he was about to impale the other, he had disappeared, only to show up behind him.

"A futile attempt."

Quickly turning around, Shun made one motion with his hand, and a large blade suddenly came down from the ceiling to cleave Cael in two, who again simply disappeared upon the contact.

"You cannot win this."

Reappearing, the walls fell away, and it seemed that they were at the canyon once more. However, it was far more empty here. There were no other students, nor was Red or any of the other hunters around.

"Kono yarou!" the Reaper cursed as chains shot up from the ground to wrap around the scythe wielder. They managed to get a hold onto him this time.

"Is this all you have?" sneered the figure. Before Shun could do anything else, the chains all snapped away before he held up the captive girl. He let go of her, but her body began to float there.

"Shun! Help me!" she cried out. Tears were streaming down her face as she was suspended in mid air.

Shun began to run at the cloaked hunter. As he did so, he fabricated a number of things in his dream to throw at the other, but they all seemed to be deflected away before they could reach the human. He then lunged forth but everything came to a literal halt as Mitsu's scream pierced the air. Everything was silent for a few moments before a light splatter could be heard. Blood dripped onto the grey grounds, giving a hint of color to the world around. The reaper stared down to find the tip of the scythe buried into his chest. That wasn't all, though. The girl he loved was completely impaled onto the weapon, staring at him with wide eyes.

"Sh..un..." she uttered before slumping over onto the blade.

"Nothing but a waste of FEAR..."

The scythe began to glow, and as it grew brighter, the world around grew darker.

Thanks to the painkillers Mitsu had experienced a mostly peaceful sleep. She had spent the majority of the time snuggled close to the reaper’s arm, her head resting on his shoulder. His twitches barely warranted a reaction though it seemed light she might stir when the reaper suddenly jerked. The thrashing was jarring her mind awake, dreams flooding into her once dreamless state.

The scene before her was a familiar one, no doubt to haunt her dreams for months to come. Mitsu’s head darted back and forth as she took in the rocky terrain, the students, the hunters, and the giant beast that used to be Red.

Her form was frozen in place, her legs refusing to move as battle waged all around her. Hunters were attacking students while the giant beast seemed to be contemplating its next move. The smell of fear and blood was so thick in the air Mitsu thought she might choke. Wait…where was Shun? Where were her friends?!

Panic stricken Mitsu began to search her legs finally moving now that she had a greater cause. She darted in around attacks her mind filling in a great amount of detail. There was a burst of energy fire, a blur of blades coming from the ground, the crack of a staff, the loud thud of a hammer. Everywhere around her students and hunters were fighting and one by one her classmates were cut down. Some screamed in pain as they were impaled before dissipating to nothing, their existence erased from the scene, while some didn’t even have a chance to utter a noise.

Mitsu continued to search her eyes finally settled on Mot and Hel huddled close to the canyon wall. She started toward them tears already in her eyes as she reached out toward her friends calling out their names. The lycan could feel her legs suddenly growing heavy, her running pace slowing to a crawl. What was happening?

She couldn’t bring herself to tear her eyes away from the two but it only caused her to bear witness to the scene to come as hunters swarmed the reapers. Hel rose to protect Mot who couldn’t see, her face full of anger, but before she could do anything the winged reaper was stabbed through the heart. The weapon was withdrawn and Hel fell dissipating before she fully hit the ground. Once she was out of the way the hunters swarmed Mot and while Mitsu could no longer see him she could hear his pleas and screams of pain before his voice faded to nothing.

“HEL! BIG BROTHER!” Terror filled the lycan as she tried to shift ready to fight off the hunters though there was no longer anyone there to protect. They would be alright wouldn’t they? They weren’t gone were they? Tears streamed down Mitsu’s face as she was finally able to move normally again but found she could not shift. Her muscles tensed and pulled, bones cracked and distorted but only fell back into place.

A scream ripped its way from her throat as the hunters moved away, nothing left behind where the two reapers had once been to indicate they had even been there at all. Eyes clenching shut for a moment as the tears continued to come Mitsu tore herself away from the scene hoping to find the others. She was shaking, she had been unable to do anything for them but watch them be killed.

Her path took her through the battlefield again, her eyes spotting Xiu and Riyo trying to fend off a hunter with blades on her shoes. They were so focused on the one hunter the two didn’t see the hunter coming from behind. Mitsu started to yell, her mouth opening to scream at them to watch out but her voice didn’t come. She reached out her hand toward the two like she might have been able to reach them, praying to be able to stand in the way at the very least but it was too late. Both were cut down in one swipe and instantly their forms began to break apart leaving nothing behind.

Mitsu tried to scream again but was only met with silence as nothing came from her mouth. Why could she do nothing? Completely distraught Mitsu found her legs buckling underneath herself taking her to her knees. Her hands rested on the ground to brace herself as her gaze shifted about. Most of the students were gone, most being cut down before her very eyes. There were only a handful left. Where was Shun?

Still looking Mitsu had failed to notice the false reaper stepping up behind her. She froze as the shadow from his form cast over her, eyes growing wide with fear. Slowly she looked back and immediately saw the scythe in the hunter’s hands as he drew it back ready to slash at her. The lycan did the only thing she could think of and brought her hand up to shield herself, though she knew it was futile to do so. Her eyes clenched shut waiting for the end but nothing happened. Afraid to move she stayed where she was until she felt a gentle hand touch her arm.

As she opened her eyes Mitsu was greeted with a face that sent relief flooding through her. Shun was crouched down in front of her, his hand coming up to gently touch her face. His eyes looked at her softly the hint of a smile touching his lips. In that moment, as he looked into her eyes, blood began to seep from his mouth and nose. His expression didn’t change but his eyes grew dim and it was then that Mitsu noticed the slash mark that had tore its way through his torso, blood freely pouring down his front.

Her heart clenched so hard in her chest Mitsu thought she might soon follow Shun as he began to fade. Her hands reached out, trying to pull the reaper close, but as soon as her arms wrapped around him his form completely faded to nothing and she was left clutching at air. Shakily she stared at her empty arms, tears pouring down her face to hit the ground in front of her. As she looked up again….she saw she was the only student left. There was no one aside from her, the mass of hunters, and Red.

The large beast was her only comfort now. The only thing left besides her that was made up of FEAR. Though, as her eyes trailed up the creature she realized something was wrong. It wasn’t moving and its color was gone leaving it grey. The longer she stared, it soon started to crack and crumble, the beast falling to the ground like a broken statue and leaving nothing but dust. Swallowing hard Mitsu turned to the only other company she had, large crimson eyes staring at the hunters as they gathered together all staring at her with disgust.

Maybe…this was for the best. They would kill her and she would join the others. She would…come back right? That’s how death was supposed to work. FEAR particles dissipated and gathered elsewhere. If that was the case she could see her friends again, see Shun. Mitsu waited, the hunters standing still and silent. Minutes ticked by so painfully slow before one by one, they turned and left.

Wait….where were they going? Mitsu tried to move, she had honestly brought up her hand ready to ask them to wait. She didn’t want to be stuck here. Not on her own. She reached out, almost pleading as a portal opened and the hunters all filed out one by one. The last to leave was the reaper with the scythe. She swore she saw a smile on his face, a cruel smile that she knew from somewhere else, before he stepped through the portal and vanished. As soon as the portal winked from existence darkness began to flood the canyon. It crept along the sky and poured down the rocky face of the canyon walls like ink. It flooded the ground and only stopped when it was pooled around Mitsu. There was nothing now. Nothing but black.

Feeling utterly useless and alone, the tears continued to course down Mitsu’s cheeks as she stared off into nothing, her hand dropping beside her. Never before had she wished so badly for death.

“S….Shun….” There was no one there to answer her. Not even the echo of her own voice to give her the illusion that someone might be there. Collapsing to the ground Mitsu curled up tightly, sobs shaking her body with every gasping breath. She had lost everyone.

During her dream Mitsu had begun to desperately cling to Shun, her legs wrapping around his torso while her arms cradled his head to her chest. Her face was buried in his hair as she continued to dream, curling in around him tightly as tears streamed from her still closed eyes. She was crying in her sleep.