For Whom The Bell Tolls... [Finished]

[Kanjin Taiyou]

Finally exiting the outskirts of the Realm, Taiyou walked into the town of Beliarsifer, standing at its cobblestone borders, taking in its surroundings. "Nothing changed here, the place has not seen the chaos and destruction of the other layers." Taiyou said angrily, gripping his massive blade tighter. Continuing to walk, the heat emanating off of his body gave him a hazy appearance to many of the citizens he passed. Taking note of the heat as his steps into the streets grew softer, Taiyou looked down to notice he was melting the stone streets under his feet. Keeping his emotions in check,Taiyou reduced his energy to not offend or injure any civilians.

"You remember where the castle is don't you?" Oni asked, drifting behind Taiyou in her usual incorporeal form.

"Everything's hazy, Tomo always kept her place open to the people for her....... 'parties', but they weren't my type of thing." Taiyou said as his walking continued. "It's not that far, we'll be there soon....." Taiyou said.

After walking for time around the city, Taiyou noticed the higher portions of Tomo's palace in the horizon. "There... I see it not to far from here." Taiyou said with his face growing long. His return was bittersweet for him. Often times in his anger, he would exercises his abilities, using his anger to fuel his power to get the most from his exertion. But in his more melancholic moments, he would remember days past. His family, his duties as a solider, his wife and their decision to follow the leader they loved so from a life of bias and lack of understanding.

"Well... Lets get to it Tai." Oni said with a devilish grin on her face, anticipating the newfound strength she would receive.

"Yeah, lets go." Taiyou said firmly. "Tomo..." Taiyou said, unsure of what he felt at the moment.

[Cielle Blanche]

[takes place after "Teach me the Game...?"]

It wasn't often that Cielle ventured through the streets of Hell; she had been raised in the castle, and while her father had taken her out every once in a while, everything that they needed or wanted was either in the castle or the Mortal Realm, so she didn't spend too much time outside. She had gone to the fifth layer, and to the sixth to see Yomi-tan and Rei-sama, but that was just about it.

The city seemed like something out of a book. An old English fairytale that had somehow been preserved by her father. The roads were cobble stone and the buildings looked gothic and beautiful. She said hi to almost everyone she met, ventured into many of the stores, and even explored the offices located there.

It was on her way back that she saw someone who had a very strange appearance...it was hazy, as though they had taken the concept of a Mortal scrambler and used it on themselves.

But still, he was headed at the same direction as she, and she skipped up to him and said, "Hello there!"

[Kanjin Taiyou]

Taiyou heard the the bouncy young woman approch him from his backside, and he turned around to catch a view of her. "She looks young, must've been born while I was gone away from here." Taiyou said to himself. "Hey there yourself." Taiyou said waving as he turned back around, and continued to go foreward to his destined location and confrantation. Supressing his powerful magics further, he continued to walk, without the haze of heat, hoping to not arouse suspicion. Taiyou walked lighted on the cobble stone streets of the Victorian esque town, looking very out of place wearing his mortal dress, a vauge resemblence to his former self.

[Cielle Blanche]

He waved, but he was still going in the same direction as Cielle, and she wanted to definitely go with him; he seemed interesting. He was now more clear since she had gotten closer to him. He was dressed in the clothes of a Mortal--but of course mortal clothes were expected here. Many of the denizens loved the Mortal Realm. This man's clothes were a little tattered, but Cielle supposed that he was a traveler. But that didn't stop her from approaching him more closely.



Curtsying with a smile on her features, Cielle said, "I'm named Cielle! What do they call you, since you're going the same way as me?"

[Mishiranu Arashi]

Arashi fell from the sky in a tumbling mess as he exited the portal of chaos. His inexperience with the wings on his back making him fly toward the ground. the young fallen was no where near ready to be cast midair without a helping hand, jumping up and taking off into the portal had been one thing. With a beat of his wings he'd went straight up, he just wasn't expecting to come out of it going straight down to the middle of the town. Arashi toppled quickly and hit the ground with a disturbing amount of force. He had honestly expected to be busted up but apparently he was just shook up.

You're time spent on Earth, and without choosing a side had weakened your body and magic. You would have eventually lost it if you hadn't chosen. But, now you should be fine.

"Yeah.. I'll be fine if I can get the hang of that herethere thing... really..it hurts"

No.. you just can't fly. Those wings are too much for you kid.

Arashi sliced his arm on his wing's edge and let the sprite bleed out. the enormous amount of blood a disturbing sight, but Arashi paid it no mind.

"Whatever Ranmyaku...Hey is that?...That's Cielle right?"

Arashi sat on the ground ahead of the stranger and the female he'd yet to identify. He let the blood flow, and felt the shift in his energy as the mass of chaos that was Ranmyaku began to swirl into a corporeal existence. Arashi looked toward the oncoming pair and watched the girl bouncing along and curtsy. He smiled seeing it and felt the sprite wrapping his arm and it was strange to him seeing that it would heal in moments. He turned to see her and jumped..

"What the hell Ranmyaku?"



"What happened to the little cute neko look... and what are you wearing?"

Ranmyaku was slightly startled but quickly it turned into a pout and she frowned. Apparently she hadn't much liked his outburst and she seemed to appreciate it very little. Arashi sighed and went to fixing the sloppy bandages.



" You really can be such a bother Ranmyaku..."

"I think I look just as cute now as ever...hmph"

She stuck her tongue out and pulled the skin under her left eye making a funny face and pranced off toward Cielle. She danced about as always and hopped to a stop in front of the two and waved quite unnecessarily toward the tow before dipping into a curtsy.

"Hey Cielle!!!! Wanna dance with me again?"

[Kanjin Taiyou]

Turnig to the side, Taiyou looked upon the face of the young women. She reminded him of his eldest daughter with her curtsy and girlish ways. "My name is Tai Cielle, how are you today." Taiyou said in a blank and emotionless way. He did not mean to be rude, but Taiyou did not wish for sentiement to cloud his judgement today, he needed to stay focused and sharp.

Still going forth with the girl at his side, Taiyou noticed a boy and bandages and a rather risque dress female. "Friends of yours?" Taiyou said to Cielle, nodding in the direction of the oother young lady and the boy off in the distance. He could not help it, but he did not expect to see so many young people on the day of his confrantation with Tomo. Hoping not to entangle anyone in his plight Taiyou asked Cielle, "Where are you going today little lady?" trying his best not to sound annoyed by the ramdom youth surrounding him.

[Cielle Blanche]

Cielle could not have been more disappointed to see Arashi in her life. She had been trying to get a walk away from the castle, alone; she had even shifted some of her features--she looked younger now--to get some alone time.

And when she met an interesting stranger, that is when the two of them decided to show up? She was having the most unlucky day ever.

Her smile faltered--just a little, not enough to notice--when Ranmyaku asked if she wanted to dance with her again.

Her smile now as bright as ever, Cielle replied, "No, not particularly," without offering any explanation whatsoever. She hoped that they would take the hint in leave, but she had the feeling that she wouldn't be as lucky.

The stranger called himself Tai, and asked if those two were friends of hers. Cielle said, the same smile on her face, "Not really. They're acquaintances, actually. Children of...associates of my mother's."

He asked further where she was going, and she giggled. "To the castle, of course. That's where everyone always goes! You're heaed there as well, I see? Have a request for the King of Hell?"

[Mishiranu Arashi]

Ranmyaku was stopped by the sudden rejection of her request. She would have asked why but it was only followed by herself and Arashi being told they were not even her associates. Ranmyaku paused and felt a little hurt but had at least the self control to turn and walk toward Arashi. He had already heard what was said and again through Ranmyaku's aggravated thoughts. He hadn't minded her denying them as friends, he was used to that kind of thing. though, nearly being called Tomoyo's child, that was something that offended him. He would have been considered more a surrogate child, one of those she simply took in off the streets. That had been something he'd tried to avoid, but it seemed he failed in the end.

Arashi smirked and nodded as he sat off in the distance. He stood and opened a portal directly to the castle gates. He suddenly felt like taking a nap, and that the sun was a bother. He stepped through without waiting for Ranmyaku to reach him making her dissolve into a stream of blood, rocketing after him. The portrait portal vanished with them after they had stepped inside and left nothing.

[Kanjin Taiyou]

The young woman's words cut through Taiyou lie a hot knife through softened butter. To say he had a request for Tomo was a huge under statement. "You could say that. Let's say I haven't seen Tomo-sama in awhile, I here to discuss a few things with the king." Taiyou said after grtting his teeth. Feeling more and more uncomfortable witht the young women at his side as they got closer Taiyou returned the question. "Your going to see her too I suppose?" Taiyou asked approaching the gates of the Yami-ou's palace.

Standing there to bask in the closeness of his objective, Taiyou looked toward the sky. Taking a deep breath, Taiyou continued to walk on foreward, clutching his massive sword in his hand, no longer concerned for who saw it. Nodding at the guards as he entered the gates, Taiyou pressed on, hoping to leave Cielle behind so the girl would not bet injured in the fight to come.

[Cielle Blanche]

Cielle kept her smile as immaculate as before. However, she was deeply worried about this stranger. His words and facial expressions didn't match. His explanation was hesitant--and believe it or not, most people were very open when they bothered to request something of the King, because of her very nature to know what one's true desires were.

When they walked past he guards, Cielle sent them a glare of venom, even despite her smile; Tomoyo wanted to be alone and she and those already in the castle were the only ones who were allowed to enter it.

Soon enough, the Balseraphim guards used their wings to increase their speed, circling around to block Tai's path before he reached the large silver doors of the castle. "Please turn back now. The King is not currently seeing visitors at the moment."

[Kanjin Taiyou]

Taiyou's expression did not change although the situation took a serious turn. "Tai be careful, the girl seems to be with the house." Oni said, floating besides Taiyou watching Cielle intently, clear only to his vision. It seemed that despite the girl's curtious nature, she had somethiing to do with the house, but this was no matter, he expected something of this sort.

Taiyou looked at the guards and raised his sword to the height of his head. "Out of the way. I don't want to hurt you guys, but you won't get back up if we fight." Taiyou said, flames covering the seemingly blunt weapon in his hand. Turning his head to Cielle, Taiyou growled, "Girl, whoever you are, get the hell outta here, there's no need for you to be here." Taiyou barked turning his attention back to the guards.

The ground began to blister and crack around his feet, and Taiyou's magicl power began to flare from his body in the form of heat, covering him in a haze of burning air. "Get rid of these idiots Tai, before Tomo gets wind your hear." Oni whispered in his ear, annoyed.

"No, I'm doing this my way." Taiyou responded back, his weapon still raised, his face deapan and full of anger.

[Cielle Blanche]

Cielle couldn't believe the change in personality that this visitor engaged in less than three seconds after being denied by the guards. She had thought that Tai would be a kind person, not the behemoth that he was revealing himself as at the moment. She heard him threaten the guards, and the coldness in his voice surprised her. She could tell with her acute intuition, that he meant his words.

Cielle held up her hands to the guards, who had begun to raise their swords offensively toward Tai. "Wait," she said out loud, ignoring Tai's warning. "Offensive actions here will deeply offend the King and trigger traps. Guards, sheathe your swords. Do not leave but also do not allow anyone past these gates. I don't think that Tai will hurt you if you don't attack him." As she spoke, she began to magically channel the castle's magical defense through her own body, the threads of light magic invisible to anyone's eyes but hers as they filtered into her body through her hair frolicles and her fingertips.

Cielle still smiled at the stranger. She didn't know why he was angry but knew that as the person taking care of Tomoyo's business, she could help. "I'm a representative of the King. She is away at the moment, taking care of something important, which is why I have been instated. Weren't you wondering why the guards were posted? I am not sure what affair ails you at the moment, but as Sanada Tomoyo's second-in-command, I can take care of whatever problem it is that you have. I will tell her majesty when she returns that you were looking for her, Tai-san. Please, drop your weapon so that I can lend you my assistance..."

She waited to see what was wrong. There was a passion in his eyes, and she felt her heart go out to him as it beat in her chest. His rage was passionate--she could only guess that something had gone terribly wrong, and she was eager to help him restore whatever it was that he had lost.

[Kanjin Taiyou]

Taiyou didn't even so much as flinch when Cielle held up her hands, shooing away the guards. She introduced herself as a representitive of Hell, and second to Tomo for the time being. But Taiyou was not in the mood, his anger, his fury, the feelings he wanted to release for so long were to great to quell, as heat still violently came off his body.

Despite this, he was not going to hurt the girl, for she did nothing to wrong him. "I don't give a damn about Sanada's traps, I was around when she had this place built, so her mouse traps and magical bottomless pits don't scare me." Taiyou growled as he watched the guards pull back at Cielle's commands. Seeing this confirmed the girl's words, an Taiyou turned his gaze to her, Cielle's nervous smile seemed to cause his anger to grow every second.

"You want to help me? Bring me Sanada, now! Or so help me, I swear to Suzaku, I will melt every stone in the damn building into slag, traps or not!" Taiyou said as a burst of heated air shot from his body, toward the guards and Cielle. He would do so if he were to let his rage, consume him, but Taiyou was in control. He continued to stare into Cielle, his eyes looking like they could burn a hole through a slab of steel.

"Tai, I think she's stalling. Get rid of her so we can do this." Oni said, her voice annoying Taiyou to no end. As annoying as she was, she would provide Taiyou with the power he would hopefully need to destroy Sanada.

"Shut it Oni." Taiyou said to himself. "You, Cielle. Why do you care so much. You're too young to be Sanada's second in command. Last time I was here Yamazaki Rei and Usuegi Yomi, both of whom I fought with against Heaven with, were her top lieutenits, so don't toy with me. Who are you?" Taiyou said, his stance unchanged as the ground bubbled beneath his feet from the heat.

[Cielle Blanche]

Tai's attitude had completely flipped. However, the truth was that indeed, Tomoyo was not in the castle--or she was in the process of leaving at the moment--and he would not do anything but harm innocent ransacking the place for her. Not to mention that he might meet some people potentially worse beings that might actually hurt him.

Cielle decided, however, to prove his judgement wrong as her first action. "I am indeed the second in command. Rei and Yomi are second in command to run the Army in Tomoyo's place. She would never allow anyone to replace her leadership wise, you silly boy. You would know that if you truly fought with Hell. I have been named second in command during her current absence. It is temporary, I know, but it is what it is. And as for my appearance..."

She began to shift, her magic curling around her limbs, her head and covering her entire body until the transformation was complete, a form that more correctly displayed her potential age than the form she had previously taken.



Tapping a finger on her thigh, she said, "Appearances are deceiving, oui? Still, as I said, Tomoyo is out, and any dealings that you have with her, revenge or otherwise, will have to wait until her return. You swearing to Suzaku or rushing in there now won't make your death any quicker." She spoke casually, as though some guy rushing to the castle making threats were normal and he was just a regular customer who had to wait in line. Actually, he was, in essence, and she smiled at the thought.

From an honest point of view, Tomoyo had dealt with the likes of him before, many times. There were many people out for Tomoyo's blood, and that didn't stop her from ruling at all. Cielle really didn't think that it would hinder her this time. It was just that Tai seemed like a decent guy. Whatever he was angry at Tomoyo for was probably not worth his life. He should just go home.

She tried again, to reason with him. "Are you sure that your problem isn't something that I can take care of? I am second in command, after all? Is there some compensation that you need for a grievance? Have you lost merchandise? Been robbed of any possessions from the Mortal Realm? I am allowed to replace those things. I don't have the magic to repair or reshape a Lillite, if that's your problem, but that can easily wait until Tomoyo returns..." she moved her finger to her lip in a thoughtful pose.

[Kanjin Taiyou]

Cielle words only started to make Taiyou angrier. He listen to her speak down to him, as if he were some common thug, some punk who had problems with the king. As the girl spoke and transformed before him, her deception in form made Taiyou think back to the past. He thought Tomoyo's dethronement and unmertited exile from heaven. He thought of his wife, and their descion much to the chagrin of many to follow their beloved king into exile. He thought of the war, the lives he'd taken in service of Tomoyo and the bonds he'd formed living as a citizen of Hell.

Then Taiyou heard Cielle talk about comphensation for a past grivence, as if it were some small deal. Then Taiyou thought back to Tomoyo's subtle changes in dispostion, and all of the habits forming from interaction with the mortal. These things were mixed with thoughts of the family he forged and loved in all of the chaos of Hell during the trouble times where Tomoyo and Chiyo's peace fell apart. Then he remembered the day the light came and totaled everything. He remembered as his twin son and daughter were disentagrated by the beams of light. How his wife and eldest son were burned to death from the heat of the energy, and how his youngest daughter died in his arms. Walking outside seeing the devestation, trying desprately to find survivors among the rubble, all in vain.

"Possesions. Merchendise. This is how you speak of them." Taiyou said, walking toward Cielle as his powerful burning aura burned with an intense heat, causing the air to crackle. "Give me back my wife. Give me back my four chidren. Give all my people, friends, comrades, fellow soilders killed during the Great Purging. Are you old enought to remember that? ARE YOU!?! Were you there to see an entire layer reduced to rubble, did you see people turned to smoldering ash?" Taiyou roared, his power flairing greatly as he stood no more than 3 feet away from Cielle, holding his sword, trembling with anger. "Were you there to see everyone I care for die over a goddamn tryst. A FLING!"

"This is the last time I ask, bring me Tomo!" Taiyou said, as he began to grit his teeth in frustration. Taiyou surrounded himself and Cielle within a dome of fire, the tempreture inside rising every second. Taiyou looked like a madman, ready and willing for this day to be his last, bu not before he himself looked Tomo in the face. And tried his damnedest to close this chapter, the last chapter of his life.

[Cielle Blanche]

[for your character's satisfaction, I'll be putting up the thread about why Tomoyo's not here shortly.]

Cielle had not known that Tai's problems with Tomoyo were as deep sated as they were, and as his rage manifested as a dome of fire surrounding her. Realizing that she had not chose her words wisely due to lack of information about this information, she allowed him to vent some of his anger through yelling. Still channeling the defense system through her magical veins, she prepared for a countermeasure. However, Tai did nothing to harm her, his dispositon breaking down. She could feel the rage beginning to consume him. Tomoyo had always told her to beware those with certain elements at their disposal. Fire was one of them.

Making sure that she thought about her words before she spoke them, she said to him. "I know of the Great Purging. I know of the suffering and death that you speak of, and so does Tomoyo. She regrets it with all of her heart, and she cannot do anything to bring back all of those who were killed. She lost a dear friend as well in the damages, and another friend who attempted to betray Hell because of it. Tomoyo is suffering for her poor decisions. However, there are things beyong revenge," she said wisely. "Not that it will mean anything to you, but Tomoyo killed my mother, and then my step-mother to boot. However, violence is not the answer. There was a reason behind it that I did not know at first. And while the same cannot be said for your situation, Tomoyo has been working for millennia since then to prevent anything like that from happening again. It was a terrible accident, but she cannot take back the actions of another person. Chiyo has already died for her sins, by Tomoyo's hands; I do not know what more you can hope to get from the situation than that.

"And as for Tomoyo, there is no number of times that I can tell you that she is not in the castle to get you to believe me, can I? She has left the Realm, to divulge a bit more detail. The only other thing that I can offer to you is for you to search the castle yourself. And I am only willing to allow you that luxury if you give me your word that nothing will be destroyed unless you actually find Tomoyo. Even though you won't, if you see her, you two can duel to the death, et cetera et cetera. However, if you don't see her, nothing is to be...ah, burned. there are innocent beings from the Mortal Realms and those who have no material worth in Hell residing here. I will not allow anyone in the castle who will do them harm. They have done nothing but accept Tomoyo's hospitalty. However, I tell you that you should wait and then return, but you won't believe me..."

Cielle didn't know what else to say. Tai had snapped into something irrational, and she was sure that her words, even as she spoke meant nothing to him because he didn't want them to mean anything. She waited for his reaction so that she could gauge her next action.

[Kanjin Taiyou]

[ I thought Tomo was gonna be here... ]

The flames of the dome flickered and burned brighter around the two as Taiyou laughed when he heard Cielle vouch for Tomo. His laughter sounded almost sarcastic, as he tilited his head backwards, clutching his massive sword in his hand. "Your just as bad as I am kid. You just don't know when to stop do you? Tomo kills people, and is allowed to get off scott free huh? Because she wants to do the right thing. Bullshit. She killed your mother and stepmother, and yet you harbor no ill will towards her. That is the funniest thing I've heard in almost a thousand years. Who the hell are you kid, Tomo seems to hate you as much as she did everyone else that was close to her, and yet you still serve her like a dog. what treats has she given you to keep you loyal huh?"

"I know this now though, Tomo killed Chiyo and did half my work for me. All that is left is for me to kill her, and then I can die. I can die knowing all the parties responsible have paid. but until then, I wil hunt Sanada down, and when I find her, I will burned her down to her wicked, blackend soul." Taiyou said, looking at Cielle with a murderous glint in his eyes. For all of Taiyou's reserve, his anger had always been a constant source of anguish. The void sprite who made a deal with him knew this, and now Taiyou struggled internaly as the growing desire to harm Cielle began to rise at and exponential rate. Oni began to subtly influence Taiyou's thoughts, driving him into a berserker like state, as spittle began to form aroud his mouth as he spoke.

"YOU'VE STOOD IN MY WAY FOR LONG ENOUGH GIRL. SINCE YOU AIM TO PROTECT TOMO, DIE WITH HER!" A demonic voice said emanating from Taiyou as the sword he held exploded with flames on its blade pointing at Cielle. As he shakely held the blade, the dome grew even smaller, its borders growing close to Cielle. For all the carnage that seemed to be so close, something was wrong. There seemed to be some hesitance on the part of Taiyou to harm Cielle.

"Oni, stop this!" Taiyou screamed, lowering the sword as he curbed the growth of the firey dome.

"YOU MUST DESTROY HER! SHOW TOMO NOTHING WILL STAND IN YOUR WAY! MAKE HER FEAR YOU! MAKE HER TREMBLE!" a voice roared from Taiyou's mouth, as the sword began to slowly raise again. There was now an internal struggle between Taiyou and Oni, as they battled for control of Taiyou's body. "GIVE IN, GIVE IN TO THE DARKNESS TAIYOU. GIVE IN AND THEN YOU CAN KILL SANADA AND JOIN YOUR FAMILY." Oni's demonic voice said aloud from Taiyou's body.

"My... family......" Taiyou said as he shook uncontrollable holding his sword. As he looked at Cielle, he saw his oldest daughter in her, and from that, he found the inner strength to take control of his body. "No.... no more innocent death! I've had enough!!!" Taiyou said raising his sword to the sky. As the firey dome disappeared, Taiyou shoot what seemed to be an ocean of fire into the sky, illuminating the horizon as if the sun violently exploded. Taiyou's fire flooded the skies of the seventh layer of Hell, and the area where Taiyou stood, cooked under the intense heat and pressure from the release of such magic.

Falling to his knees, Taiyou breathed heavily, having just taken his body back forcefully from his sprite by force of his will. He remaind there, his clothes heavily burnt, his massive sword spliting the ground under its heavy weight. Underneath the burning sky, Taiyou remained on the ground on his hands and knees, his objective nowhere in sight, morally defeated, as his altercation with Tomo would have to wait another day, all his efforts seemingly for nothing.

[Cielle Blanche]

[Tomo just gave birth to a child. The next time you find her, though, she'll have no excuse not to be here. I've teased you long enough with Tomo's non-involvement in your plot; I wanted to give you a chance to develop a bit more, and I'm happy with this post. I'll give you a fight for your life next time]

Cielle's face deadpanned as Tai began to laugh, loud and hard, at everything that she had said. She hadn't thought that she would be convincing to someone with hate in his heart like Tai, but she hadn't expected anything as harsh as laughter. No one had laughed at her advice or a serious statement that she had made.

He was trying to goad her into his anger next. But he did not know what had transpired between Tomoyo and herself and she would not be lured into a false sense of ungratefulness. So she let him laugh. His harsh words and temper tandrums would not change the fact that Tomoyo was not here. Tai's question went unanswered, though, and it was just as well; he continued without giving her the chance to answer in the first place.

Cielle allowed him to vent, vowing revenge and yelling about how his life would be complete and he could die if he killed her. Cielle did not appreciate this sort of talk about Tomoyo, but she listened, not only because he was very dangerous and threatening but because he seemed to get worked up, his magical aura growing with each word. And Cielle wanted to gauge his strength. Rage was all about him, and Cielle could only imagine how his rage stoked the fire that drove him. Spit began to form around his mouth, and Cielle continued to stand there, straight and narrow, bracing herself for this visitor's offense.

"YOU'VE STOOD IN MY WAY FOR LONG ENOUGH GIRL. SINCE YOU AIM TO PROTECT TOMO, DIE WITH HER!" A hideous voice said from Tai's body, a voice that did not belong to him. Flames ignited on his sword, pointing at her, his hand shaking. A sprite had to be bonded with obviously--a sprite without a good disposition. However, his type was rather common. She knew that Arashi himself had been bonded with a sprite that had not been quite so polite to him in the beginning of their relationship.

"Oni, stop this!" he screamed, confirming Cielle's suspicions. There was something using him, attached to him that he was trying to control.

"YOU MUST DESTROY HER! SHOW TOMO NOTHING WILL STAND IN YOUR WAY! MAKE HER FEAR YOU! MAKE HER TREMBLE!" and the sword began to raise, the demonic voice so different from the voice Cielle had heard moments ago."GIVE IN, GIVE IN TO THE DARKNESS TAIYOU. GIVE IN AND THEN YOU CAN KILL SANADA AND JOIN YOUR FAMILY." Cielle wanted to interject, to tell him that the course of action that he was taking was not necessary. But it was not her place. He had made his decisions, and he had to deal with them. She knew nothing of his pain, and it was not her right to tell him that the measures that he had taken to ease his pain or make it worthwhile were inappropriate.

He seemed to be battling with himself. Cielle stood there, waiting to see what would happen. She braced herself for his attack, hoping that he would not. Cielle was painfully aware that she would only delay his assault on the castle, not stop it, even though she hoped that using the security spells would help her.

"No.... no more innocent death! I've had enough!!!" Taiyou said next. The dome around them began to fade away, and it seemed as though all of the firepower used to fuel it was let loose from his sword, sending a blazing column of flames into the sky. Cielle took into account that she would have to alert the citizens to what was going on lest they worry. She heaved a sigh of relief, glad that she didn't have to fight.

Tai fell to his knees, and on instinct Cielle took a step toward her, stopping only because she was not sure if he was going to accept her help. His clothes were burned, the large sword cleaving the ground in two where it penetrated the earth.

Swallowing, Cielle gave him the only assurance that she could. "I will tell my mother," she said, "that there is a fallen warrior out for her blood, who will stop at nothing for revenge for his family. I will tell her that you shall return with a vengeance that rival's Yomi's. And I will tell her that you deserve to fight her honorably for the sins that were her fault and that she deserves whatever injuries she sustains as penance for what she's done to you. But that is all that I can do. Whatever other words you have for her will have to wait until you see her yourself, because I cannot adequately convey your loss and anguish."`

[Kanjin Taiyou]

[Oh well. Next time Tomo is mine!!!! ]

"Shut up... shut up and get away from me...." Growled Taiyou, cutting Cielle off, shaking while he slowly stood to his feet. "I hate you, I hate this place. I hate Tomo, and I hate myself..." He contiued, leaning on his sword as he gathered himself. Staring at Cielle with a fury and loathing as hot as the flames that scorched the sky, Taiyou breathed deeply before speaking again.

"When I return, all the security and traps in all of the layers created by the Shijin won't stop me from having my vengence. And If I ever seee you again..." Taiyou paused as he looked at the girl, tears begining to form in his sunken eyes, turning into steam in the heat coming from his body. As mad as Taiyou was, he would not bring harm to the girl, she had done nothing to him to deserve his wrath. Yet she remained indifferent to Tomo, despite what she claimed the Yami-ou had done to her.

Looking into Cielle's eyes, Taiyou remebered his family, his daughter that Cielle reminded him of and lowered his head. "Get me the hell outta here Oni." Taiyou muttered as a darkend shround appeared over him, removing him from the 7th layer of Hell completely.