"You've probably never wondered this and the Demons probably didn't think it was worth it to say anything," Shiko adds, "They're asses that way, no matter the cost, they still end up using us, no matter the risk or what kind of hold we think we have on them."

Rui stands and moves toward me, voice calm and somber, he asks, "Have you heard of the term Pure of Heart, Vermillion-kun?"

I force the bile threatening to crawl up my throat back, "Yeah, I'm not Pure of Heart, I've been told."

"Exactly, you don't have immunity against the influence of the Demons' desires. Without that gift, at best you'll become a Demon yourself, whether you stay sane or go rabid tearing humanity apart is uncertain," He continued.

"The reason your powers keep escalating at a surprising rate is also because of your lack of this gift. In regular demon exchanges, the demons don't live within the host, only a piece of power is given," Hikari picks up, "Giving a Demon control over your body can go two ways, bad or very bad. If they have nothing to gain, they can simply kill you and they'll still live. Lucifer and the others have something to gain for us so they can't do that."

"We know you've let them possess you and that's fine, but going past where you are now Kira, it'll be dangerous," Shiko, much calmer and sterner now is watching me sharply.

"So you're telling me to do nothing?! To give up?!" I stare at the three of them in disbelief, hoping that I was getting the wrong message, "You can't possibly mean that!"

"You can't give up," Hikari says simply, "You just have to find some other way."

"And fortunately for you, there might be," Shiko claps, joined hands pointing at me, "There are a number of ways to seal the Gashadokuro, not many but they exist. I searched and settled for the spell and vase method but there's another effective way."

"Thank goodness!" I nearly fall to the floor from relief, all wasn't lost. Not yet. But once Nightmare's plan was stopped, he'd be our next target.

"It's a special oracle stone. I sent them to a sub-plane so to bring them back, they'd have to be summoned. This stone just has to be placed on the center of the spell circle being used and the effect will stop all beings from the plane connected to it from existing on the destination plane."

"What's the name?" I pushed

She looks me dead in the face, "I've forgotten."

My panic returns in full force.

"I'm sorry, I wish I could remember but at the time, I'd poured more effort into the Spell and Vase method because it would keep them away for good...if I'd done it properly."

"It couldn't be helped," I say, hoping I sounded more comforting than I felt, I wasn't mad at her in the least, being too hurt to keep going wasn't something someone could walk off. Shiko had done what she could, it was my turn now, "When I get back, I'll tell Kuro. I'm sure he'll find out what it is in no time."

"I wish I was able to form a team," Hikari whines, elbows on the table as she pouts.

"You practically had a sidekick," Rui shoots, he'd picked up his beads and assumed his sitting position across from Shiko.

"Wasn't technically my sidekick."

"Sure," the other two groaned with rolling eyes.

I wanted to hear more but I'd actually begun to worry about the boys since mentioning Kuro. I had no idea when I'd passed out to get here. Last I could remember, we'd left the open streets and that was all. A blank existed between then and now, and I couldn't keep my thoughts from straying to the worst possible scenarios.

"I should probably be leaving now if you've told me all I need to know," I announce to the table of Keepers. My predecessors who'd so boldly taken up this position years ago. With how they acted, it was almost hard to notice, but I could see the invisible scars. The wariness within their eyes. They deserved this solace, even if it was some kind of mystic punishment. A place just to exist and be.

Something almost impossible in the world I'd come from.

"You should," Hikari sighs sadly, rising from her seat and pulling me up into a tight hug, "I'm so sorry, you know?" Her whisper caresses my ear, pleading my forgiveness, "If I could, I'd give you back everything my actions took from you, but there was no other way and I'd sadly do it again."

She pulls away to fix me with a solemn gaze, the gaze I'd seen when she died.

The other two have stood up as well, Rui making his way to my side once more, "The universe works in ridiculous ways, Vermillion-kun. No one with anything to lose has ever been a Keeper. We all accepted this because it was the only way for our lives to have meaning."

I don't return the sentiment but I don't say anything. Finding meaning in my life has never been something I bothered with. I enjoying living with my family, shopping and sports, as long as I can continue to do those things, nothing else really mattered. This protecting Tokyo thing was just a close for things to remain the same.

"We lived for the Seal and whatever the Demons have been battling since it came to be," Shiko joins us and soon the three are leading me back to the dock.

"You guys don't know what they want?" I'm a bit surprised admittedly. These guys had spent several decades with the Demons before they passed.

"Not entirely, not the exact details, but they want the human plane to remain as it is. Not necessarily peaceful, but free from major Demonic influence, and I can work with that," Rui responds.

I could get behind that as well. I'd seen what Nightmare's groupies were capable of, Jade's story remained fresh in my memory as well, not to mention types like Akio who could run around with Dark magic at their fingertips.

I came to a stop at the edge of the wooden platform, turning to the past three Keepers to say my goodbye.

"I don't know if we'll be able to call you back anytime soon, but know we'll always be watching over you," Hikari takes both my hands in a gentle squeeze, a bright smile splitting her face once more as tears began to spill out.

"Not all the time though, but we'll be cheering you and your boys on," Shiko corrects.

"Stay focused, and stay in control all the time. It's the best way to win most battles," Rui encourages.

I nod at all their words, a twinge of emotion tugging at the sensitive parts of my being. Especially when I glance past the three to the house.

Kazue hadn't once looked out to acknowledge my presence. I'd wondered about her when she'd been mentioned to me the first time. What kind of girl would leave behind so much to pursue a life of danger and uncertainty? All to defend the world and ensure peace on her own. How had her influence pushed these three to carry these burdens themselves? And would I have persevered alone if Troy and Kuro hadn't encountered me that fateful night?

My thoughts are cut off by the feeling of being forcefully pushed back. I stumble and fall back towards the clear blue waters of the Tethered Pavilions. My surprised gaze catching the assuring smiles sent my way by the only three people who could simultaneously get me and not at the same not.

Movement from Hikari's lips reaches me and I hear the words, "Until next time!"

I smile as I finally hit the water, this time, going calm within its grasp and letting it take me home.

I wasn't going to come back on my own anytime soon, and that was a promise.