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"WHAT?!!" Kazuhiko gasped. "NO WAY!! Can I go inside your mind and watch?!! Please?!! Pretty please?!! I wanna learn! I wanna learn it too! Please?!! Pretty pretty PRETTY please?!!"

Kaguyo nodded. "But I betrayed you how many times Aled? I still came back. Who knows, perhaps she is the same. Perhaps there's some part of her life she hasn't told us about yet, or maybe she has her reasons. But if she does betray you, and regrets it... Returns... I wouldn't turn her away." she sighed softly. "I couldn't say anything else without being a hypocrite... If Kazuhiko hasn't killed her yet, she obviously has a bigger role to play." she decided promptly. "I watched him torture five traitors to try and find out where Aoki was a little under a month back, remember? He killed one of them outright. Kazuhiko doesn't tolerate that sort of behavior, even with people he doesn't know... He protects his family first and foremost."

Shiori shook her head. "I haven't the slightest idea." she admitted quietly. "Wait until he's asleep, perhaps. Lull him to sleep like I did the last time... Drug him if he's sleeping too light. Get him drunk. I'll figure it out."
She was still standing before him, the man's figure completely shadowing her from the window.
She peered up at him for a brief moment before looking back at the cuffs.
If she were to turn double-crosser, she wondered who would be the one to hunt her down?
Aoki, undoubtedly. Her stomach was tying into knots with fear around him, unable to relax. It seemed hard to breathe.
She couldn't have another attack, not now...
"Anything else?"

Shiori shivered slightly, unable to even blink.
She only nodded, unable to find a single word to say.

Kazuhiko shook his head. "I'm learning it." he determined. "I gotta take MY powers back eventually. Share!"

Kaguyo shook her head. "I can't stay, Aled, or I would... You honestly should be keeping a closer eye on her." she added. "You think you need my advice? Trust yourself. I always trusted your judgment more than mine."
She paused in the doorway, thinking for a moment. "I honestly don't think she has it in her to kill you, though." she turned back to look at him. "You've grown on her too fast."

Shiori lingered in her room, falling to her knees the second that Aoki was gone.
It was impossible to calm her nerves. Yes, she had gotten away with not mentioning the secret weapons; she knew they hadn't a clue. The lab was the last safe place in the palace...
At least if she stayed there, Aoki would have to walk in himself....
Perhaps if she told Aled now, it would be possible for him to be merciful with her. After all, Kaguyo left.... how many times? And even attacked him outright...
She quickly tucked the cuffs into a chest at the foot of her bed. There was no way she could hide them on her person without Aled noticing; no need to risk that.
Who knew? Perhaps....
Her eyes widened slightly. What if the cuffs could be used against Aoki??
Dangerous thoughts to be thinking right after the scary b*****d had left.
She sat on the floor, trying to calm herself and figure out a plan of attack.
For starters, she'd probably have to lure Aled there....

But could she really do that to him??
After all the kindness he had shown her....
Could she condemn him to death?

Kazuhiko smiled. "I can help." he offered. "Portal???"

"Ok Daddy." Kazuhiko yawned slightly, before seeming to pick up on something. "Hang on a sec..."
Watari would've noticed too, a greenish-amber tint to the air for just a moment....
Kazuhiko peered out into the hallway in utter silence, listening and watching attentively. He didn't say anything about it, however, even if Watari knew what had caught his attention.
How the hell did he sense without his powers??
"I'm going to see Shi-chan." he announced, before taking off down the hall.
Instead, he teleported to Aled.

"Hi Ojisan." he hopped into his lap, snuggling. "I think the b*****d was back again. He's gone now. But he was here... He went by the lab. He didn't think anyone could see him, but I could!"
He practically confirmed his fears already.

"He came from her room." Kazuhiko whispered. "You don't think she's in trouble do you???... I do." he frowned suddenly. "Shi-chan changed since Ainsu left... did you notice?? I did... She's harder to read anymore, even for me. Why aren't you keeping her safe??"

Kazuhiko shook his head. "You both be careful." he warned. "Neither of you are in a very good place right now. You're better off sticking together... If Aoki comes again, he's going to kill her." he placed a hand on Aled's arm. "He's going to try and kill you both, or at least hurt you both really badly... All I see is Shi-chan crying and you're both hurt on the floor. Blood. Lots. You need to go take care of her." he frowned. "She needs her medicine. She almost missed it a few times since Ainsu left too. You bettttttttter be careful Ojisan..."

"Don't come there, no matter what." Kazuhiko told him firmly, and for a second it was hard to forget he was a little boy. "I am a Shinigami, I have to go into situations like this all the time now Ojisan. That's just how life is. I don't want you or Shi-chan getting hurt... she isn't bad, really. Trust me on that. She isn't. She's just..."
He paused for a moment, walking Aled to the woman's room.
"She's just confused." he decided, sighing. "I don't know the word for it. But here. Here's her medicine. She's three days behind. Yuki said to yell at her. Shiori's been ignoring her every time she says something, like she's somewhere else entirely."
He paused at the door, biting his lip. "At least get her to take these, but be careful. I would want to know what Aoki was doing here..."
His fingers traced the door as if to pick up some sort of residue.
"Because he definitely was."

Inside, Shiori froze, knocking a vase over in her carelessness.
She could hear Aled outside, and she could certainly hear Kazuhiko...
Little brat was ratting her out! How couldn't she?
But when she opened the door, Aled was the only one there.
Kazuhiko had teleported just a second before.
"A...Aled-kun..." she whispered, watching him closely. "I thought... I thought you had to talk to.. to her..."
How she said 'her' was clearly the sound of her hopes deflating.
"Are.... are you positive you don't have any feelings for her, none at all??"