This is the last part.  I warn you there's death, blood, gore, and
betrayal ahead.  You have been warned.

			Running Blind [Part 8]
		                       Running Exit


	Minutes later the two forces collided.  Each using what magic they
could.  Flashes of light and blast after blast shook the huge building as
the Jukaih team let lose their best.  Unfortunately, it was only their
best.  All around her, Moriko could see her comrades falling and only
more and more monsters appearing.  Soon it would be hopeless, but hadn�t
it been from the start?  She turned in time to blast away one monster
before another piled in on top of her.  They were carrying swords and
were getting faster, better.  Moriko sent the recent attacker to his back
with one swift punch and grabbed the sword.  She plunged it down through
his head and watched the blood seep out onto the floor for a second.  
	"Everyone out!" someone yelled and ran out the front.
	"Coward!" Ryu screamed after his old teammate as he struggled with
another Marai warrior.  
	"At least I�ll-" the man turned to yell, but was swiftly interrupted as
the long steel blade pierced his midsection, forcing him forward.  A
fully hooded figure stepped up into the arena and removed the sword from
the man�s middle.  He stepped past him listening to him curse the gods
for what happened and draw his last breath.  The dark cowl hid his face
perfectly and the cape concealed his body.  Pulling out a small piece of
cloth, he wiped the remainder of the guy off his sword and stood in the
doorway.
	"No fair running away from the game," Hikaru laughed as he sat perched
on the banister.  The way he sat made him look like a child, like a child
playing with his favorite toys.  "I have to tell you, there�s one way you
can stop the murder.  Wait�no that would be too easy wouldn�t it?  Of
course, I want to see you writhe in pain and anguish as you watch your
stupid companions die for their foolish ideals."
	His laughter echoed against the walls.  Time seemed to be frozen as the
Demon King rose to his feet.  He enjoyed watching the frozen battle. 
Monsters on one side, humans on the other.  The monsters heavily
outweighed the humans, four to twenty.  Hikaru stared down at the
ballroom and shook his head.  Everyone watched him in anticipation.
	"Drama isn�t my forte, you realize�but I think I�m doing a damn good job
right now.  Anyways, I�m off topic here," he waved his hand and all but
four demons left.  "We mustn�t have an unfair game."
	"What do you want?!" Ryu yelled up at him.
	"What do I want?" Hikaru thought.  "I only want two people alive. 
Demons kill the others."
	As soon as the command was out, the others were dead, feasted on by the
monstrosities.  Then the two demons retreated back into the facility,
closing the massive iron doors behind them.  Now it was just two against
two, the final battle before the showdown.  
	"You know what I want, Moriko.  My first in command so willingly told
you against my wishes, but we can�t control our human halves, can we? 
You foolish people just don�t let up in your quest to be free," Hikaru
walked down the banister and stepped off behind his monsters.  "We true
demons cannot exist outside our host bodies, but we can�t always control
the emotions of these hosts.  Now, I think that if you turned yourself
in, we�d let you live on as hosts.  I don�t expect you to do it, but as
an evil villain, I must ask.  It�s my contract."
	"Well, then you know our answer," Moriko shot back. 
	Hikaru nodded, "Yes."
	He whispered something and the other monsters took off, "Those monsters
you fight are only genetic recreations, we can�t use them, no brains.  I
feel that if I fight you directly, it�ll be much better.  I can cause the
pain and suffering I feed on."
	The doors opened again and Yurei stepped out, his long gray hair
blending in with his tunic and pants.  Yurei always had a sprightly
appearance, but now it was heighten by the aura he wore.  A light gray
color which made him glow. He waved to them and stepped in behind Hikaru.
 
	"Yurei, must you patronize me?" the lord sighed.  "It�s been ten years
and still."
	"If I�m evil at least I have fun," Yurei countered and looked at Moriko.
 "Besides, I thought you were already rid of them."
	His eyes wavered for a second, but regained the steely look after a
second.  Moriko knew that Yurei was losing his control over the human
side.  Maybe it could work to their advantage.
	"Ryuhi Mikazuki, what is your decision?" Hikaru ordered suddenly.
	"My decision?" Ryu looked at him.
	"Yes, will you sacrifice yourself for her?  You said you would, now is
the time to chose," Hikaru smiled.  "Will you exchange your life and mind
for her safety?  I�ll leave her alone if you join me."
	His eyes wavered on the decision, but Moriko spoke up, "I wouldn�t dream
of it.  This isn�t what you really want and you won�t kill me.  Like
Yurei said, you need the power."
	"Are you so sure?" Hikaru smiled and twitched his hand slightly.
	Ryuhi�s eyes went wide and he started to run to her.  Moriko turned
slightly and felt the knife slice through her stomach.  She had been run
through cleanly.   The pain was intense and as her assailant twisted the
sword to remove it, she was forced forward upheld only by the skewer.  He
slowly pulled the blade out and caught her before she fell.  She turned
her head as the blood began to seep out and collect in a pool at her
feet.  It was the man in the black hood.  The gloved hand rose up to the
hood and as he pulled it slowly down, she caught her first glimpse of her
assassin.
	The black hood lowered revealing the blue hair that was slightly long,
but just short enough.  The sparkling blue eyes and long thin face.  The
light hit the finely chiseled figures and Moriko felt despair sweep over
her.  All familiar, all too real.  The black headband that raced across
the forehead had one sign in it, �sky.�
	"Didn�t expect to see me, did you, Riko?" Sora stared into her green
eyes and smiled.  "This host body suits me so well."
	Moriko coughed and blood began to trickle out of her mouth.  
	"You must be so confused, both of you," he looked up at Ryu who was held
back by Yurei.  "You know�my host loved you, but what is love when war
rolls around?"
	He took her chin in his hand tenderly and turned her face to look at
Ryu, "See his despair?  His anguish?  It�s all clear and beautiful isn�t
it?" 
	"Damn you, damn all monsters�" Moriko spat out in-between coughing up
more blood.  Sora dropped her and let her fall into her own pool of
blood, the life giving liquid pouring out of her.  Moriko looked up at
her old friend�s face knowing he was in there somewhere.  Slowly she
raised her hand, "Goodbye�Ryuhi�Yurei�"  Her hand dropped and her eyes
began to grow dark.  "Where�.are you�.Sora�."
	Ryu stared at her limp body and screamed in anger and grief, "You
bastards!  How could you let your sister die?!  How could you let Moriko
die?!"
	Yurei wasn�t listening.  He stared down at the lifeless body and
something in him snapped.  His eyes wavered and a single tear fell out,
"You said she would live�that she would be useful alive."
	He released Ryu and he ran forward, cradling Moriko�s dead body in his
arms.  Ryu knew that she was gone and nothing could bring her back.  He
didn�t care about life anymore and let the world know it as he held his
friend and lover�s body.  Everything was over and-
	He heard someone drop to the floor and looked up to see Yurei standing
over Hikaru�s frail dead form, his head twisted at an odd angle.  Tears
didn�t come from him, only a sullen look.  He turned to Sora and raised
his hand to the level of his eyes.  Sora looked at the human Yurei from
across the room and turned to flee.  Suddenly, Sora�s head was no longer
attached to his body.  Ryu looked up at Yurei in fear and held Moriko
closer.  
	Yurei looked down at him with shining eyes, "Sora was wrong, she wasn�t
the only Child of Destiny."

15 years later

	Yurei and Ryu walked through the town of Jukaih and waved to their
friends.  People just assumed that Yurei had come back, nothing wrong. 
They went easily and without fear, nothing had happened, no wars, no
enemies.  Nothing to fear.  Marai had fallen apart and the Jukaih
Military Defense Post too.  Every shred of turmoil and battle was gone. 
They lived in peace.  Yurei knew that he couldn�t tell anyone about his
secret, or he�d be set up for the next experiment.  He had explained
everything to Ryuhi, but he was the only one.  The Post didn�t have a
Child anymore so there wasn�t anything to test them in, it folded up like
a piece of origami paper.  
	"Should we visit again today, Rei?" Ryuhi looked up and saw the sun
shining through the canopy of trees.
	He nodded, "Yeah, Ryuhi, we should.  I picked up her favorite flowers
today.  I think she�ll like it."
	"Yeah," Ryuhi walked along in silence until they reached the temple.  He
rang the bell and a young woman came to the door.
	"Please enter, sirs," she bowed to them and moved to the side.
	They did and took their shoes off before stepping up into the altar
section.  He went up to the offering center and waved for the girl to
leave.  She bowed again and left them alone.  
	"Are you ready, Ryuhi?" Yurei laid the briefcase in front of him and
unlatched it.
	Ryuhi nodded, "Let�s go."
	Yurei pulled out a bouquet of pure white flowers.  The long pale
shimmery petals reached out like fingers toward the sky.  The stems were
straight and hard, but the flower was the national treasure.  Only a few
people would be able to grow them under strict rules.  Yurei placed the
garland on the table and bowed low.
	He raised his head and began to chant, "Lines of time and light bend to
my will.  Become mine as you once were and join what power I have.  Open
my gateway, the one I travel each day.  I open myself to eternity and now
I call you into me."
	Suddenly a portal opened in front of the altar.  Yurei turned to Ryu,
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
	Ryuhi nodded and removed the dagger concealed under his shirt, "I�ve
never had any second thoughts."
	Suddenly, someone�s head popped out of the portal.  The glittering eyes
watched them as one by one they raised the dagger to their hearts.  Then
the portal closed and the room was thrown into deep shadow, only the
white flowers produced any light giving off the eerie glow and
illuminating the puddle of two bloods running together on the floor.

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