“KAITO!” Ark shouted upon seeing Kaito’s injured arm.

“I’m fine.” He muttered standing up.

Lily growled an gripped her broadsword. “What are you doing here?!”

she asked, clearly pissed off. James smirked and held her face.

“My job, love. And you will never stop me.”

Rin was holding on to Kaito, fearing for his life.

Ark growled. But hesitated the sight of James with the scythe reminded him of the dream with the demon.

“No. You stay away from us. “ Ark warned James growling his ears and tail shaking.

“I’m afraid you are right. We can not meet our destinies too soon, my friend. We are bound to meet another day. In the meantime, have fun with some guards.” James said and disappeared again, his eyes glowing as red as the stone. A bunch of guards led by a male similar to James appeared in his place.

“We need to go now.” Ark said, picking up Kaito. “Geez, I guess all that height makes you heavier.” He muttered under his breath.

Rin nodded her head, glaring at Lily once more before helping Ark carry Kaito.

Lily sighed deeply and thrust a hand at the guards. Some of the chains of darkness thrust out from her back an wrapped around the guards in front of the James look alike. “Wait, you are James brother, right? Max?”

“Hello, Lilith. How long has it been?”

“Not long enough.”

“Hah, cute. I see you’ve aquanted yourself with some criminal.”

“They are NOT criminals!” Lily shouted, thrusting a shard of black glass at him, which he easily deflected.

“Yeah we’re not the criminals here.” Ark said from behind Lilith still carrying Kaito. >:3

Max laughed evilly. “Your right. There is never a “right” or a “wrong” side to any conflict, only what we believe is “right” or “wrong”. That's the case, sint it, after all?”

“I didn’t mean it like that but ok.”

“Meh, that's just my Philosophical personality. Let’s just say, you don't want to anger the Sadomasochist personality, okay? Let’s just keep this fight fair an civil, that way NONE of us have to deal with him. He’s kind of not really that fun to be around for anyone, so don't mess with him.” Max said, pulling out a sleek silver gun.

“Hey cheif what’s the gun for?”

“To end you, of coarse.” Max said with a smile, no sign of anger whatsoever.

“Oh~. Makes sense.” Ark said.

Max smirked an sidestepped. “I am giving you guys a ten second head start before I start shooting. So.” His voice darkend. “Run.”

“Aight.” Ark said grabbing Kaito harder and ran past Max towards a window. Lily an Rin followed suit. They knew the ten seconds were up when a gunshot rang throughout the hallways- a blank, mind you- an the sounds of hellhounds and mystical guards slamming footsteps echoing behind them and getting closer. Lily ran ahead of the group.

“Come on! The paths are this way!” Lily shouted over the roar that is the hallway. “We need to get out of the Hall of the Mountain King!”

“Ok.” Ark said back the sounds of the hounds getting louder and louder.

They ran through the forest, the mountain path was treacherous but their only hope. Rin helped him out by carrying Kaito.

“Just up ahead!” Lilith shouted the gunfire and shouts from behind grazing Ark’s shoulder. Ahead of the group was a small cliff with a rope bridge across it to the other side.

“Are you sure we can make this?” Rin asked Lilith with concern.

“Yes, we can. I’ve done it before. Once we pass this canyon, they won’t be able to chase us, as this area is notorious for being one of the places where no-one escapes.” Lilith tried to convince Rin.

“Well-” Rin started but Ark grabbed her shoulder.

“I trust her. We know that she’s different now, okay?” Ark told Rin, who sighed in return.

“Okay, let’s do this!” Rin said and as she had just started to cross the bridge when a gunshot went off and a bullet fired at Rin. Rin jumped backwards, the bullet missing her by and inch grazing her ear.

“Not so fast.” A voice said behind them. The group turned around to be confronted by Max holding a gun, and Cole right behind him. Cole pissed off and suffering from a bump on the back of his head from Kaitos’ frying pans.

“You really think you could escape me that easily Lily and Ark? We have so many more experiments to conduct.” Cole said with and evil laugh.

Ark stepped between Max and Lilith. “Rin and Lilith, you take Kaito and run across the bridge. I’ll hold him off while you guys run. I’ll cross after you.” Ark said, defensively handing them Kaito’s injured self, then looking back at Max with a hatred burning in his eyes.

“Ooh those are some eyes you got there. It’d be a shame to let them go to waste.” Max chuckled cackled, his eyes a shade of furious bloody red. “I wonder if they are as powerful as my own!”

“Lilith, Kaito, and Rin GO NOW!” Ark shouted pushing them towards the bridge.

“Oh, I won’t allow that.” Max shouted. Max cocking his gun firing the bullet.

Ark jumped forward, slicing the bullet with his katana.

“Your fight is with me.” Ark told him.

“Very well then. Let’s go.” Max said throwing his gun hitting Ark in the face. Then Max charged straight at him, punching him in the chest an sending him flying into one of the trees. Ark got up his eyes black as the sky.

“Your mistake buddy.” Ark told him, slicing at him with his katana. Max only dodging by and inch. Ark kept up the barrage, slicing at Max who dodged all but one, which cause his cut to glow a piercing white. “Damn, it looks like the fox has more than one trick up his sleeve. But so does the Kyuta!” Max struck back with his fist right into Ark gut, a blood red mark spreading onto his shirt and spilling onto his skin. Ark coughed blood flying backwards into the forest. Ark struggled to get up, using the blade for support.

“I’m not done yet.” He told him concentrating and after a few seconds Ark opened his eyes their color had changed from black back to white. The kitsune mask appeared on Ark’s face and his katana glowed a green shade.

“Now this is a show! Bring it on, mouse!.” Max said charging at him with lightning speed an a thundering voice. Ark sliced at his arm. Max barely deflecting it with and unknown substance. This substance was a reddish-orange color and seemed to melt away the light like acid.Ark then did something that shocked Max.

“What the.” Max started before Ark appeared behind him yet again, slicing at his arm again. This time Max was too slow to protect himself his arm went flying across the the area landing 10 feet away. Ark looked back at Max, who was on the ground screaming his arm bleeding out.

“This battle is over.” Ark told him. The mask and katana dissipating into mist which dispersed around him. Max used his powers to grow a new arm in its place.

“YOU RAT! GET BACK HERE!” Max screamed as he began to regain feeling in his new and more dangerous arm.

Ark had just started to walk away, when Max got up and scrambled for his gun. ‘Ark was already on the other side of the bridge, but he might still be able to hit him.’ Max thought, grabbing the gun. Max's’ voice started up again.

“This isn’t over you Kitsune.” Maxs’ voice echoed shrouding the sound of the gunshot.

Ark turned around hearing his voice but saw only James’ smiling face, and upon turning to his right saw a bullet flying towards Lilith and Rin. Ark jumped over barely slicing the bullet before it reached Rin but looked over at the other bullet heading straight for Lilith. Ark’s heart stopped as he ran towards Lilith.

“Lilith move!” He shouted pushing her out of the way the bullet heading straight for him.

… The bullet hit its mark.

Ark shuddered as he fell to the ground. His last sight, Lilith and Rin screaming and rushing towards him, and across the crevice Maxs’ smile before it all went dark.

-End of book one-