Eld blinked awake, having expected this, but what surprised him was that Kageko herself was asleep. This didn't happen often; generally, if he was in this world it was via Kageko summoning him (usually in his sleep, as doing so while he was awake tended to scare the hell out of people), and if she was asleep he simply didn't end up here.

Normally. There were a few times like this, though, where he entered here even if she was asleep. He wondered how that was possible sometimes, if he could somehow enter of his own free will without her help. Or perhaps it was a sign of trust between them, that even when she was vulnerable he could be closest to what was really "her"...

You worked hard to day, didn't you? She was clearly exhausted and sweaty. Truthfully, he'd been hesitant to push her even this hard, but she'd insisted--and he couldn't force her to change forms if she didn't want to, he guessed. But she'd worked hard, and he'd discovered about how long she could be out before it became too dangerous to keep her going--the limit was high enough that it was unlikely a single fight would ever put too much strain on her, though that didn't take into account energy she might lose from taking on half of his injuries.

Her breathing was a little labored, which made Eld a bit sad. She did so much for him all the time, and yet there was forever so very little he could do in return. After he became a Reaper, perhaps he'd have to find a way to set her free.

A thought in his head echoed from the previous night. I wish I could protect your sleep and you protect mine. Kageko always made sure he didn't suffer the nightmares that would otherwise plague him, but he couldn't do a thing to make sure she didn't have any.

I wonder what she's dreaming about now. He reached up and stroked her hair, pushing back some of it that was stuck to her face from the sweat. I hope it's something pleasant.

And then, something changed. Kageko had let out a soft hum of contentment, but that was not it at all. That would have been pleasant, alone, but amidst the other changes, likely to go ignored. The darkness, to Eld, would lift slightly-- it'd become . . . lighter, as if it were all fading away, slowly but surely.

The darkness faded, but it would, in the end, present little physical bearing. It might have been strange to Eld at first, how this experience felt. It was much like having Kageko released, yet how it must have been on her end-- to see something from a disjointed perspective, to see and feel, yet have no biological presence, and all the while, feel what it was like in her own world, amidst the darkness which brought her nothing but comfort. Eld would feel her still-- still laying upon him, still comfortable and content in her resting, yet he would see elsewhere, somewhere beyond the darkness, somewhere . . . lit.

But it wasn't a harsh or malevolent light, not like the type he had been exposed to before. It was soft . . . comforting. Endless, perhaps, but warm and compassionate. The good kind of light-- because in truth, it was just as possible for the darkness to be compassionate as it was the light to be malevolent, and vice versa.

It was . . . a dream, but not his own dream. The dreamy feeling was there, but he was not experiencing it with his own body-- he was disjointed. He was elsewhere, watching from a fixed perspective.

Kageko's dream.

Kageko could dream. But it wasn't until now that Eld had ever seen it. She never talked about it before, either. Not once did Kageko ever suggest that she was capable of dreaming, but she was capable of controlling what Eld dreamed about to a very great extent.

And it was there, within the endless white, that he'd see someone-- a man within the expanse of ivory, standing tall and casual, relaxed and calm. A man, tall, taller than Eld, yet at average height for a man his age, somewhere in his early twenties, yet still-- he hadn't a single spec of facial hair upon him, despite this, not even the hint of a five o'clock shadow, or even any stubble at all. He had blue eyes, blue as the sky-- beautiful as the sky, and light red hair that fell down just less than an inch below his shoulders. The underside of his hair seemed to be a dark red, noticeably only if looking directly at him. He was a thin man, and appeared to wear a white suit, a casual suit-- a white pair of slacks, white loafers, and a white jacket, with a red button down shirt below it.

The way he stood there, the way he simply existed . . . he seemed compassionate, inviting-- even familiar. And that would be the strangest part about him. He'd feel familiar, even to Eld . . .

Not for the first time in his life, Eld felt something for which he had no real frame of reference to describe. He felt at the same time as though he were still in bed, with Kageko laying comfortably on top of him, and somewhere else at the same time.

Later, when he had time to think about the experience, he'd guess at some of what happened: that he was seeing Kageko's dream, that he was seeing through her the same way she must see through him, that from her perspective, the darkness was as comforting as the light was to him, perhaps even more so.

As it was, all he could think about was the man in white...he was by far the prettiest man he'd ever seen (though he could practically hear Sarah saying "except when you look in the mirror"), and despite the fact that Eld was sure he'd never seen him before, he was overcome with a feeling of familiarity, as though he knew this person...

Who...is that? Despite wearing decidedly more modern clothing, he couldn't help but get a noble feel from him, as though he was a proverbial knight in shining armor...

And as Eld focused upon the man, there came someone else, someone behind his point of view-- a girl, a girl with obsidian skin and scarlet eyes, skipping towards the man, stopping as soon as she was in reach of him.

Her dress was odd, here. It was similar, but different. Rather a dark color, as per her usual preference of a black, green, or red dress, it was somewhat . . . pink-ish. Pink-ish and much more modest.

He said something. It looked like he was saying her name, uttering it in a fond and heartfelt way, which made Kageko jump into him and throw her arms around him. With a laugh, he gently wrapped his arms around her, and for a moment, they embraced like that. He let her go after a few seconds, and she let him go and took a few steps back, but never once looked away from his face.

The way Kageko talked to the man . . . it was different than the way she talked to Eld. She had energy. She was bubbling with energy, in fact. He spoke a few words and she laughed and put her hand over her lips to contain it a little, but kept on smiling either way. She'd say something to him, and practically dance where she stood, bouncing a bit, leaning all her body weight upon one leg and then the other, with her arms behind her back and a wide smile upon her face.

And it was completely requited. The man never lost his smile all the same. He spoke to Kageko conversationally, and when it seemed like Kageko was saying a lot and then paused to look up to him and await a reaction, he smiled warmly to her and patted her shoulder in an almost congratulatory way.

When that happened, Kageko seemed to lose that bubbly energy of hers, but not to depression or thoughts that were elsewhere-- but to contentment. She swayed a little, almost childishly, as the man moved his hand up to place it upon her cheek and brush her bangs away with his thumb-- and she smiled shyly and did little more than look nervous and . . . and bashful, really . . .

It was a way she never acted with Eld.

Another figure joined the eerily familiar man on the stage--this time a familiar woman, but in no way eerie, at least to Eld. It was Kageko.

Kageko? he called out mentally, but when he received no reply he finally figured out just what was going on. Is this...her dream? It was the only explanation, for if she were conscious he would surely have responded to him.

But at the same time, she wasn't Kageko--at least, not as Eld knew her. She was energetic, bubbly...happy. All because of this man, this all too pretty man who he somehow knew. It was impossible, really; Kageko should not have known this man since she gained the ability to feel. Was it just some random figure in her head, some embodiment of her fantasies? But that was also impossible, for Eld was certain if he was just some created figment he would not feel so familiar.

A feeling rose in him, one he hadn't felt in some time but that was still decidedly familiar. It was what he'd felt every single time Sarah had shown up before him with a new boy in tow--regardless of how he acted, if he was polite or rude, shy or outgoing, it always caused something in him to boil.

Perhaps it should have been a warning sign to him, that ugly jealousy, but it was eclipsed by something else, or perhaps just another part of the same feeling. More than any hotblooded emotion he could feel at the man in white, there was a cool depression, a twist in his insides. It was the knowledge that, if this was her dream, he should be happy for her, for it was clearly something pleasant for her.

The knowledge that she'd never acted that way around him, so...full of life. She didn't stand ceremony, looking after this man's every want without regard for her own. That if anything, it was the opposite, that she was being a bit selfish, wanting this man's attention, his praise, more than anything else. She was so...open. Carefree.

It was also the thought that perhaps she would never be like that around him. That regardless of how strongly she might feel for him, she'd only ever see him as her "master." A benevolent one perhaps, but nevertheless some figure in charge of her, distant...unable to understand, and therefore unable to bring out that kind of joy in her.

He recalled a time that seemed long ago now, when he was depressed and in order to help cheer him up, she'd shown him a dream, a memory of a person very important to him. Was this how she'd felt then, seeing someone else do what she couldn't?

They laid together, naked under the sheets, within the comforts of his own bed, of his own quarters. There was more than enough space to go around. No longer did anyone have to resort to living together, but some still could-- not because of necessity, but because of the absolute want to. Between Gestahl and Katalyna, it was exactly that.

Gestahl's loft residence was fairly undecorated. There was a window, overlooking a sea of endless gray, a window without drapes. There was a couch in one room, a bathroom with only a toilet and a shower, and a bed in another room. There were no paintings, there were no pleasantries of decor-- there was only blank gray, painted once before, yet falling apart all the same. The only decor, perhaps, was that of the bed-- a large mattress, large enough to fit a seven foot tall man comfortably, with double the space required, with pleasant bedding, pillows, and blankets. More blankets than a person would ever need. These were no obtained by Gestahl.

And it was under those sheets that they lay, Katalyna's head leaning upon Gestahl's shoulder, and Gestahl's left arm wrapped around her. Despite this, Gestahl's attention lay elsewhere; his eyes instead focused upon the window of his room, and the forever gray atmosphere beyond it.

Katalyna stared at the man with her head tilted to the side, half smiling--a rueful smile, perhaps. "You leave . . . in the morning, Gestahl?"

"I do."

Katalyna looked away, opposite to the window. She squinted her eyes and furrowed her brow; all her thoughts were sad ones. After a moment of silence between the two of them, she looked back at his face, and spoke again.

"And you will come back to me?" She asked, expecting an answer that may have been far from joyful.

"Yes."

The last time, so much time had passed-- so much time, as far as they were concerned, they whose lives burned away within a blink of time's eye. "For . . . for how long?"

Gestahl turned his head and looked away from the window-- and at Katalyna. Sincerely, he replied, "Forever."

Katalyna was taken aback by this-- surprised, for Gestahl had been so blunt, and so . . . so confident. Her eyes grew wide and her lips parted. She looked to him for confirmation. "Really?"

"Yes. After tomorrow, there will be no further need for fighting. After tomorrow, the five of us will be together into eternity."

"Do you mean it, Gestahl? Truly, dearly?"

It was, perhaps, unnecessary-- yet necessary all the same. A reassurance, perhaps. She knew that Gestahl told no lies. Of all people, Gestahl was the least likely to lie. He was genuine and truthful with all things. He could be nothing but!

"Yes. That is the world I promised to build for you-- the world you have always wanted," Gestahl raised his right hand, and between his fingers, stroked Katalyna's hair.

Despite his gruff and hardy appearance and demeanor, it seemed he could still show affection. Gestahl pushed Katalyna's bangs back on one side, back behind her ear, and let his hand trail back to her cheek-- to lightly rest upon it-- a rough sort of caress from calloused hands, but that was something Gestahl could not change-- and it was something Katalyna would not have changed for the world, either. Joyously, she smiled and leaned her cheek into his hand, humming happily, elated . . .

"My Katalyna," Gestahl whispered.

"My Gestahl . . ." Katalyna whispered in reply, before leaning down to place a kiss upon his lips, and revel in the warmth of his embrace-- and his promise.

In the morning, Eld would find a rude awakening waiting for him: a sudden jab to the side of his chest; it wasn't too terribly strong, but it was definitely familiar. And not a good familiar, either. Waking up this way had never wound up good for Eldridge Tsukimono. It always meant that one of three people were currently trying their damndest in the most violent of ways to wake him up as quickly as humanly possible, and for the most part, those three people succeeded whenever they tried. Unfortunately, only two people did that anymore . . .

"Eld! What the hell are ya doin'?! The big event's in three hours and ya just snoozin' the whole damn mornin' away! Wake the hell up!"

It was at that point that he'd be able to discern who, exactly, had violently roused him from his sleep, and perhaps deem it typical behavior, if the side of his chest didn't hurt too much.

Six months ago, it would have hurt a lot. He would have been sore all through breakfast, and probably tender there for the rest of the day. Now, there was little more than a dull pain that faded nearly as quickly as it came. Unfortunately, what hadn't changed that much was his body mass. He was slightly muscular now, but not much; he couldn't change in his body type no matter how strong he got.

So, while it didn't hurt that much, it did still send him tumbling off the side of his mattress and into the narrow space between his bed and the wall.

Normally he'd be rather indignant with this awakening, but today he made an exception. Trying his best to put the strange dream (which likely wasn't even his dream) out of his mind, he responded, "Sorry for worrying you. But...give me a little credit, Sarah. I wouldn't sleep through something this important."

He was a little hurt that she thought he would, though. Etsu's life was on the line--he wasn't going to be careless.

For today, Sarah had actually come well dressed. She had a button down, short sleeved shirt, and a plaid mini-skirt over a pair of jeans. It was about the nicest she had dressed since Remmy's funeral.

"'tch," Sarah scoffed, briefly.

So much changed here. Eld went from just being a scrawny nerd to some kind of superhero, almost like a return on the Reaper that came back, sans her own abilities-- as if Eld was somehow making up for her own weaknesses. There was the scythe, the Law, Noah Herst, the albino-- and now, these mysterious people, this Gestahl, Illorex, and all their ilk-- so much changed around here so quick. It was almost excruciating to try and keep up with it all.

"Sorry," she uttered, looking away and at Eld's nightstand, a serious look upon her face--if not a little sad, too, "Just tryin' to keep somethin' a little normal, I guess."

"Ah, no, it's fine," Eld said quickly, shaking his head. He immediately felt guilty for chastising her. It was easy to forget that Sarah wasn't generally the most honest person with herself; she often said one thing and it would mean something entirely different. Sometimes Eld could pick up on it, other times...not so much.

"It has been awhile since you've woken me up, hasn't it?" he asked with an attempt at a smile. Awkwardly climbing over his bed, he moved up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry though...everything will be fine." It was a far cry from the way he'd been just after she'd rescued him. Then, and for some time after, he'd been exhausted and depressed. Now he was calm. Confident, even. And it was in no small part thanks to her.

"Yeah . . . well . . ." Sarah started, but trailed off shortly thereafter.

She took in a deep breath and clenched her fist. She may not have been able to beat Eld up anymore, but she still had the same bravado as if she could.

"If it ain't--" Sarah looked to Eld again, eyes narrowed, brow furrowed-- she was serious, determined even; this was a promise she intended to keep, in the worst case scenario: "Then ya better hide out in the afterlife for a loooong time, 'cause I'll make it my lifelong goal to beat the shit outta ya, ya hear?!"

Sarah was making it a point not to shout out any particular bits of information, as Eld's parents were still around somewhere, and that couldn't possibly end well.

"Now-- Mayako's got breakfast sittin' out there for ya, and I've got my second fastest horse outside waitin' for ya-- so ya better hurry ya ass up!"

Eld couldn't help but smile; this time, Sarah's meaning came through loud and clear. "I guess I'll just have to be careful then, won't I?"

******

Breakfast went by quickly; again, though Mayako's cooking was excellent as always, he didn't have time to savor the meal. He needed to hurry, and it would take him some time to get to his destination.

He could probably have searched all day in Galaens and never found where they were hiding, but fortunately he didn't need to; he knew where to go, without even having to be told.

Just before the spot came into view, he stopped the horse and dismounted, tying it off nearby. He didn't want it to run away this time or risk it getting hurt in the fight; he'd need it for the way back, and it would have an extra passenger.

Even without seeing him, he knew he was there, waiting. He could feel the strong pressure of, if not Qi, than whatever these people used. He wondered if they could similarly feel him, not knowing why they could but all the same sensing a power greater than a normal person's.

And more importantly, he could feel her. Even if she couldn't feel him for now, he could still feel her. Always. If they had killed her, he would have known the instant they did it.

Are you ready, Kageko? he asked, as he strode up to the designated spot--where they had fought two days ago, and where Etsu's naginata still lay on the ground...

Barren, dry earth, cracked in portions, leading on for miles; on the left, distant, there were trees-- pines, further on down, a deep forest that lost half of its populous thousands of years ago, in such harsh a climate-- a rocky, stony, dry climate, colder as it progressed towards Xexoria, a climate that only pines could survive in. On the right of the path going from Galaens to Feiyan, a cliff-side in the distance, a cliff-side Eld was heading towards directly. Before, he had fought Toushikyo and Gestahl far from the tall cliffs, but now, he'd see figures in the distance, far back where the cliffs were.

Three figures, to be exact.

And when Eld arrived, he'd see them clearly:

With their backs to the tall cliff towering over them, Gestahl and Toushikyo stood in confidence. Toushikyo stood as best he could, at least. One arm was in a cast, and the other was preoccupied holding a crutch, the only means he could stay standing at the moment. Eld had really done a number on him, and it took a little while to catch up to him. There was no way he was going to be doing any fighting today.

Gestahl, on the other hand, was perfectly fine. He stood with his back facing the cliff, too, waiting patiently for Eldridge Tsukimono. Between Gestahl and Toushikyo was the one Tsukimono had come for: the probational Reaper, Etsu Hikane.

She was unharmed, just as Gestahl had promised. Unharmed, but not particularly comfortable. Her naginata had been driven deep into the stony cliff wall and at a sharp downward angle, about seven and a half feet up. Etsu's hands were chained together, a chain bound to the naginata wedged into the cliffside. There, she dangled, but didn't struggle. There was only a two foot distance between her feet and the ground, which wasn't too horrible-- but it was still extremely uncomfortable.

Seeing Etsu hanging like that, he should have been furious. There was no reason to treat a prisoner so uncomfortably; she could be bound just as easily laying on the ground as hanging from a chain. But he kept his anger in check. Whether they wished to impart the severity of the situation on him, or simply sought to rile him up, it didn't matter.

He kept his pace even as he approached, his face neutral. The sight of Toushikyo surprised him, as he couldn't imagine any reason for him to be here, especially in the shape he was.

Saying nothing, he ignored Gestal and Toushikyo for the moment, his gaze lifting up to rest on Etsu's form. She seemed to be unharmed, which was a relief, but he wondered if she were conscious. Surely she couldn't have been out the entire time since she'd be captured...

And inevitably, it was Etsu that noticed Eld before anyone else. Her head, before hanging, with her gaze focused upon the ground, snapped up as soon as she heard him coming. And low and behold, it was the man of the hour himself.

"Er-rd-kun!" she meekly called out, almost as if she were surprised to see him there.

She shouldn't have been surprised, truly. Of course he'd come for her-- of course he'd at least try and negotiate with Gestahl and Toushikyo. She figured, at the very least, that he would not want to make the trade, but that he'd try and talk sense into him. That was just how Eldridge Tsukimono functioned. It was admirable.

But at the same time . . .

Etsu's features fell from surprised and energetically enthused to dominated by worry and dread-- and with good reason. Gestahl had taken a step forward. His shadow reined over her, and made it hard for her to see anything, only Gestahl and the glaring sun he stood in front of. She had to squint to see.

"You have come," Gestahl declared with his arms folded over his chest and a stern stare at Eldridge Tsukimono, "Good."