[Kodai]

"This one is... thanking you," Kai replied, his breathing beginning to slow to a normal pace. Carefully, he began to push himself up into a crouch before slowly rising to his feet. It was strange to be blind after all those years of being sighted, and he wavered slightly, but he managed to stay upright. "This one is being all right," he tried to assure Wash, though the wound in his chest had started to trickle blood. "It is needing to do something... before it is being driven from this place..." He turned, attempting to face Kodai and Wash but addressing everyone in the room. "Please... Iiylumiel Fallen, he is suffering... none of you is knowing the extent to which he is suffering... This one is needing to be ending his pain... because his death is being the fault of this one... And in seeking to be ending his pain, this one is seeking to be ending the pain of all innocents that is suffering as he... Perhaps at a later time, you is understanding... but for now, please... You must be letting this one be doing as it is needing..." At some point during his speech, the cries of Capturing made their way into his mind, and he turned towards the sound of claws on marble. "Cap..."

The Eyes watched and listened as Kai made his announcement. So... was this why he had been born? To be found by this Hollowheart, to become his eyes and help him to fulfill his task? Well, then... time to help him out, then. Closing his eyes, the Dark One began to focus, attempting to transfer his sight to Kai... however that would work... Slowly, he opened his eyes and saw... blackness. "It has... Has it worked?" he mused softly.

Light suddenly flooded Kai's world. Blinking, he shook his head in order to clear it, but the light remained and even began to take on forms... Soon, the entire Shrine was clear to him. He could see again... even out of the eye that Kree had ruined... "This one is thanking you again," he breathed to the now blinded Eyes, then began to assess his surroundings in order to figure out what had happened during his spiritual journey. Lord Asyriel was bleeding lightly from his snout, and Cap's claws were coated with fresh blood, so Kai easily surmised that the Kanua had attacked the Hollowheart Lord in retaliation. Everything else looked essentially the same, though. Sighing heavily, he began to walk towards the downward sloping tunnel, towards the White Room... He had a mission to complete.

[Kodai]

The Hollowheart Lord could say nothing. He could do nothing. He had killed the other with his own jaws and yet...

"He's... still alive?" Mechanoir blurted out, seemingly for Asyriel. He too could not believe his eyes as he watched the Hollowheart heading for the lower levels of the accursed Shrine. "What task do you speak of, boy?" he asked inquisitively, wondering of all the things that this one had seen beyond the veil of death. Hopefully it had not been anything like his experience with the devilish imp, Kree...

The Voice, having seen the dead rise too, did not shown it upon her countenance. Instead she moved towards the Eyes, who, though he now could not see for the moment, could hear very well. "My friend," she spoke softly. "Things have... calmed now. You may leave with this Kairebutasou, as he has commanded," her gaze shifted towards the huge doorways leading to the cold, wintry air outside. "However, I shall have to venture forth and gather the rest of us if we are to aid the Hollowheart. We shall meet again..." With a quick nod and a flash of stony fur, she was gone, racing out into the howling winds as if she had never been there...

The Leader nodded honorable at the attempts of Lenore. "Please... Do not strain yourself. I... will try to see if I can leave this accursed place..."

Just before he could step forward, two of his most loyal subjects steped forth and blocked his path somewhat. Their crystalline hides were dark as night, green markings cascading within them as if they glowed with an inner light. Their voices were strong and full, "Our lord, please, allow us to try. A failed attempt would most likely aggravate your wounds, sire..." With sagely nods, the two strode over in a calculated unison and careful... slowly began to place their claws across the threshold and out the swinging door... with success...

Something within his mind awoken. The Leader stiffened, hearing the calling within. It told him... to follow the Hollowheart would mean a difficult road, but also a path to both revenge... and redemption. Perhaps this was what he needed... to finally rest...

[Kodai]

Capturing was jubilant as Kai's re-awoken eyes saw his own, but when Kai turned away...

What is he doing? Why is he leaving? Did he not... miss me? Capturing's eyes swam with tears unshed, and he swallowed the rapidly forming lump in his throat... with immense difficulty.

"Kai!" He cried out. "Are you not missing me? I was missing you! Kai!" His throat didn't seem so compliant with the words that had formed on the tip of his tongue. It was so swollen though with a thousand phrases to express his feelings, how could he even wish for this to happen? The end of his strangled cries faded away, not echoing in the domed shrine anymore.

Hesistantly, he stepped forward, his lengthy nails making soft clicks. He wanted to follow... he was mere steps away...

[Kodai]

Wash gave a nod towards Kai, before masking his emotions slightly and giving advice. "Do what you must... Only don't dislodge or remove the shard in your chest. That happens, you lose too much blood and die again." He nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat at the blood seeping out around the shard.

As the Voice disappeared, the once-Kuhna gave a small nod in the direction she had last been, and gave a whispered "thank you" for his new strength and new body. With that, he backed off from Kodai, giving her room to do what she pleased without his rather large form hanging all over her.

Lenore looked from the two Hunters to the Leader with not a tiny bit of awe. She felt as though she was floating on clouds, rising slowly. She reached again, coming closer to the Leader. "What will you do if not leave?" She asked, hoping she would be satisfied with the answer. Her mind reeled from him to them to Kai and back.

(Wow, horrible post. No muse for Basantha anymore, after 10 pages of posting here. p: )

[Kodai]

Any bit of conversation directed at him, any voice that wasn't Capturing's failed to reach Kai's ears. Slowly he turned, that pained voice piercing his heart far more easily than any object or weapon could... Again, he fell to his knees, his arms open in apology to the Kanua. "C-Cap..." he choked out, his voice threatening to fail him. He didn't know why, but the distress of Cap made him, in turn, distressed... Perhaps because somewhere within himself he realized he was the source of the distress and thus needed to rectify it. Crawling the short distance between himself and the Kanua, Kai gathered Cap into his arms and hugged him tightly to his chest. The shard stuck there began to twitch slightly faster. "Cap... this one is meeting with Iiylumiel Angel Fallen in the life-after... He is suffering... and... it is possibly being within this one's power to end it... 'Defeat the god's Plan', he is telling this one... and that is being what this one must be doing. It is starting by laying the body of Iiylumiel to rest... and Nssyldriel as well, if this one is recognizing his remains... there is being too much war in their lives; they both is needing peace now. But after... there is being much turmoil for this one, much hardship... this one is seeing you is wishing to follow, but... this one is not wanting you to be getting hurt..." Kaibutsu knelt there, holding Capturing to him as if this were the last chance he would get to do so...

Even though his normal sight was now being used by Kai, the Dark One could still sense the presence of the beings around him. Cautiously, he padded over to where Wash and Kodai were, and sat down before them. "Please tell me if anything happens," he asked, wondering if maybe he should be following after Kai instead of remaining in the central chamber of the Shrine.

[Kodai]

Asyriel and Mechanoir were still stunned as ever, but the effects of seeing Kai here again still lingered. Asyriel spoke to his councilor, "How can one rise from the dead as he has just done?"

"The same as perhaps seeing the two Fallen Angels in their dying breath, as you have told me about my lord. Highly improbable but, after your own experiences, still possible, sire," the wise Mechanoir said, standing at his master's side, unable to heal the wounds on the dragon leader's snout.

"I suppose... I suppose I will not kill him again, if surely the gods willed him to live yet again. His... first... death should be enough repentance," the Grand Hollowheart muttered and turned back to the doorway of the accursed Shrine. "Perhaps we should be going now, Mechanoir."

His councilor easily nodded and stepped outside into the cool air, the pair outstreching their vast wings and hurtling into the frosted air... They'd had enough of this place...

~~~

The crystalline beast known only as the Leader looked sadly at Lenore, a little ways away from him now since his followers had moved her nearer to the human, Kodai. "If I cannot leave then I shall spend the rest of my days guarding this Shrine from the wiles of the dark master, Xai're," he looked down almost dutifully. "I should like to escort you back home if I could however, and then with that, I would most likely have to follow the dragon. Something binds me to him... and yet... I do not know what..." Still sitting, a light came into his eyes as he looked up at her and held her gaze. "But! Seeing as how my two most loyal of guards can leave, I would wish Ta'anrak to go with you until the end of his days."

The Hunter he spoke of returned to his leader's side and nodded honorably. "That I shall do to my fullest, my lord," he said in a handsome voice.

The prideleader gave a small smile as he watched the guard move to Lenore's side. "And I would have Vis'ra go with that one," he motioned his head towards the infatuated Kanua, "for it looks like he would need it." He laughed alittle and nodded to the second guardian, who strode over to introduce himself and pledge his service to the Kanua...

[Kodai]

(HAHA. A guard pledge himself to Cap! And after this post, I dunno about you Khe, but my muse has NOT died yet! 8D)

Capturing's eyes glistened, wet with unshed tears. He sheathed his claws, the tough nails sliding into his toes quickly, before he launched himself onto his back paws, and thrust his shoulders back, seeming to convulse as the changed position and his back straightened with a sickening crack.

Some unknown instinct led him on, and before Kai could close the distance (oh, so unwanted distance!) he flopped onto the ground, catching himself and arching his back, as the very muscles and bones beneath his skin rearranged to a  more human like quality, and the long fur seemed to melt away. He was still left with extraordinarily long hard nails, though on top of his new fingers, the customary Kanua stripes, tails, and ears.

Naked, he crawled (please, maturity people! all these guys here are awesome but... we can't conjure boxers!) the remaining inches to Kai, and in silence, pulled himself the rest of his way to his arms. No sounds reached his muted ears, as he pressed his body against Kai, loosened his arms and lay them around Kai's neck...

He pulled back his head, and looked into Kaibutsu's eyes... pulling a slender arm forward to brush the shining black hair, streaked with orange. Then he slowly leaned forward, resting his forehead on Kai's, closing his eyes and then slowly opening them, a single tear winding its way down down Cap's smooth, unweathered, human cheeks.

"Kai..."

But then all words left unsaid were spoken, with his actions, as he moved his face closer, lips coming to meet Kai's, sensually meeting his... before drawing back tenderly.

The barest of kisses, full of the most emotion.

Fireworks exploded in Cap's head, and then continued to rest his forehead on Kai's, the position open for suggestion.

And then for good measure, he formed the words.

"Kai... I love you."

[Kodai]

Wash looked from the soft shounen-ai to the Eyes. And back to Capturing. And back to the Eyes. Then to Kodai. And back to the Eyes. He flushed lightly and turned around to give the now-nakid Cap some privacy, though he knew that Cap wasn't about to demand it... He had... Other things on his mind... Obviously.

Tapping the Dark One on the shoulder, he cleared his throat softly. "Well... Um... That is to say... Well, first, two of the Hunters are now able to leave the Shrine, I think they're called Ta'anrak and Vis'ra. Ta'anrak is to come home with Lenore, and Vis'ra with Cap... Though... He's a bit busy at the moment... He just turned human. Naked human, sorry, and he and Kai kissed. That pretty much got you up to date." He chewed on his lip and watched Lenore as she struggled to get up.

Lenore looked at Ta'anrak, honored that one of the Leader's pride would come home with her, that he cared enough to send someone. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Capturing and Kai, both human, one naked, share the most soft kiss. "Dammit, they're KISSING?!" (Hehe she swore in her mind. e.e)

Wash glowed. Not in the way that one glows with pride, but literally, he glowed. Fairly brightly, too. Lenore, too, started to glow, but before she knew it, the glow faded, leaving her with some of his energy. His thanks for her risking her life multiple times to protect his.

The Undead Kuhna stood. Shaky, unsteady, on still very weak legs, she stood. Of course, the Leader still towered above her. Looking over her shoulder again, she saw Wash wink. Blushing furiously, she sat, staring pointedly at the ground, and not making eye contact with anybody.

[Kodai]

Well, it was obvious that Capturing had not heard a word that Kai had just said... but... that did not matter right now. Almost nothing mattered... everything important that he had just spoken of had been thrust into the back of his mind by Cap's actions and words. He began to tremble slightly from the sheer emotion of the moment, and the shard, after pausing temporarily, began to pulse faster than ever. Cap loved him... but how did he mean, exactly? When Kai had told Kodai that he loved her, he had meant in the sense as a son loves his mother, but he was fairly sure that this was not the sort of love Cap meant. Neither did it seem the sort of love between friends or brothers; it was stronger than that... Somewhere within the recesses of the remainder of his soul Kaibutsu understood, and it desperately wished to be able to sit here and hold Cap to him for an eternity... but that was not to be, and that portion of his soul was overshadowed by his confusion (and common sense). "Cap..." he whispered. "You is being the first to be saying this to this one... in this way..."

At the update, the Eyes blinked mildly in surprise. Capturing had turned into a human? And had kissed Kai? Well, that was strange... But the news that two of the Hunters could now leave the Shrine -- that was good. ...Right? He still didn't quite know how he felt about them... They had wanted to kill him, but that was only because they were pawns of Xai're, innocents that had fallen into a complicated trap. It wasn't their fault... he could forgive them. Kodai suddenly seemed to return to the land of the living and, giving the Dark One a quick scratch behind the ear to tell him that she was moving, she cautiously stepped forward so that she was standing in front of the Leader. "Um... Leader... if that is indeed your name... I'll... I'll try to help you see if you can set foot outside of the Shrine."

[Kodai]

(((Ahh! I've no more characters! x3 Sorry for the short postee. And oh! Time to pass out Hunters. :3)))

"That would be... most appreciated, human," the crystalline Leader gratefully accepted and nodded his thanks, trying to stand on the leg that wasn't badly broken. The others watched in mild worry, ready to pounce and provide support should their Leader topple.

Just to get a headstart, the sleek feline began to slowly limp his way towards the door, much to the protest of most of his followers. Eh... It didn't matter, this leg. He'd been in much more pain before... before, when his life did not depend on the course of the god Xai're's dictation... "I hope this works..." he mumbled to himself looking at the doorway, the thought of being flung across the room not so appealing at the moment...

[Kodai]

"And is being the first..." Capturing averted his eyes, pondering the words. He had seemed to 'adopt' Kai's speech for some strange reason, and as he cradled himself in Kai's arms, breathing in his scent, these newly heightened senses giving a whole new meaning to his worlds. He looked up.

"And is meaning it." He said softly, smiling gently, lips parted slightly to show his teeth. The canines were slightly sharper than perhaps normal, but it was all apart of the new Cap. He nuzzled his face into Kai's neck, and buried it there, letting his head rest on Kai's shoulder in content.

No worries in the world could find him here, no sick, perverted mind horrors could hurt him.

[Kodai]

Lenore was already standing, so when the Leader started moving to the door, she startled slightly and gave a few leaps after him. As he mumbled, she appeared next to him, smiling up at him warmly. "You can do it, Leader. I know you can." She said confidently, practically radiating her affection and confidence in him. She was still sort of bleeding, but since her newly transferred energy, her skin was beginning to knit with such lightning speed that it was a visible, though slow, motion.

Wash looked down at the Eyes and to Kodai, but back to the Eyes. Grabbing the Kuhna around the neck, he gave him a nice big friendly lick on the forehead, as if, "we made it through, little buddy." Then he grinned down at him... Though the other could no doubt not see it, he could probably feel it.

edit: ((Haha forgot Ta'anrak.))

The Hunter assigned to Lenore looked from his charge to the two newfound lovers, wondering who to watch. Certainly Capturing and Kai were more interesting, but... Would the Leader mind? Ta'anrak paused, and stood straighter, trotting up to the pair. "Excuse the interruption, and I do apologize profusely, but should he not have some cloth to wear? Being as it is he does not have the benefit of fur any more, a covering would be advantageous in this cold altitude and climate; may I remind you it is cold outside?"

[Kodai]

Kodai placed a hand on the Leader's flank, intending to try to hold him down if he was pushed back... not that her strength would be enough to prevent him from flying across the room if it came to that, though. Hesitantly, the grand Hunter lifted a forepaw, letting it hover for a moment before firmly placing it over the border of Basantha's doors. A ferocious wind blew into the Shrine, causing Kodai and some of the other humans gathered to shield themselves, but the Leader stood fast and soon enough, the wind had died down. He... had done it... The tension in the air dissipated, as if the entire pride of Hunters had been too afraid to even breathe and would only now release their breath.
"You did it..." Kodai stroked the Leader's back gently, enjoying the feeling of the smooth, living crystal beneath her fingers. "You can leave... You can escort your little lady home." She gave the Leader a sly wink and added, "If you do need a place to stay, you're always welcome in my home... Though, if you do plan on traveling with Kai, I don't know if you'll see it that often..."
"...Thank you, human..." the great creature replied, grateful and somewhat surprised. Someone would actually offer sanctuary to a being such as himself? This day was most certainly full of surprises. Stepping fully out of Basantha, he turned in order to address his pride. "My allies... we all, for various reasons, have fallen under the sway of the Dark Master, Xai're. Our souls are bound to his will. But we must not let this dictate our actions. We must pursue the course that we know innately to be the path of righteousness. To this end, I must leave you. My last wish as your Leader is this: for you to remain here in this Shrine until that day in which you are released from your servitude by a willing individual. May the light of Yepha  guide you... May she take pity upon us and guide us all..." With this, the Leader bowed low to his ensemble, turned, and began to leave, only pausing and looking back once to see if Lenore was going to follow.

The Eyes was momentarily confused by Wash's 'buddy grab', but he soon felt the warmth radiating from the Kuhna and eased up. "Thank you..." he nodded in return, then carefully stood and walked over to where Kai and Cap were still holding each other. "Kaireibutasou... You have unfinished business," he reminded him gently, nudging his arm with his muzzle. Kai nodded slowly, still not really wishing to let go of Capturing. At Ta'anrak's question, Kai looked up to him, and then back to Cap.
"Cap... this one is having to be doing some things... you is waiting for this one? Or you is wishing to be helping? You is taking this one's shirt if you is to be staying here." Carefully he rose to his feet, bringing the human Kanua up with him and pointing out his shirt, still on the floor where he had flung it. "Is taking it... This one is going to be giving proper rest to Iiylumiel and Nssyldriel."
"And then we're getting you to a hospital," added Kodai, coming forward and picking up the Dark One. "Don't worry, Iiylis, I'll carry you so you don't walk into anything. Now come on, guys, let's go!" The human strode off into the dark tunnels, Kai on her heels after giving Cap one last squeeze.

...Iiylis? Where had that come from?

[Kodai]

"This one is thinking... He can change back..." Capturing looked puzzled, and knelt gently to pick up the shirt, and then (thankfully, his tails covered his most EXTREME barenaked-ness) handed it to Kaibutsu.

"The transformation is... most painful. This one is wishing to do it in a concealed spot... it is most gruesome, this one is thinking, with the rearranging of anatomy..." His duo-colored eyes dropped, and he swiveled his ears thoughtfully, though they remained out to the sides, flat.

And without further ado, Capturing padded off to a pillar, the breadth of it concealing him easily. It was just then that the warmth of that embrace faded... without extinguishing completely--and he felt the cold. Immediately, goose bumps rose from his flesh, and he shivered, squeezing his eyes tight. He tried to relax, and got on all fours, back arched, willing the minutes of hellish pain to come upon him.

While the flesh rippled, and hair sprouted, long and thick, from every follicle, Capturing didn't cry out. He didn't cry out when his back jerked upwards, and the new hair bristled up and down his spine. He also bit back a scream when his bones broke, and mended, to conform to his new anatomy, and his muscles slid into place, and wings tore from his back, at his shoulder blades. Once the transformation was complete, he opened his eyes, only to find such a different perspective. He shook, and collapsed to the cold flagstones, the cool felt marvelous on his shaggy body. Then, chest heaving, he sighed, and regained his breath. Then, he tested his strength, and found it still surprisingly increased, like in his human form. He padded softly out from beneath the pillar, and loped over to Kaibutsu, nuzzled his banged head into his lover's palm.

"Of course, this one is going with Kaireibutasou."

(Now, to Vis'ra! 8D)

Vis'ra looked over to Cap, and made to follow him, but realized how... private such a thing would be. He grumbled incoherently, and settled for making his way over to the human, Kaireibutasou. There, undoubtedly, Capturing would return, so there, he would wait for him.

While her pride-mate approached The Leader and the others, he shot a sidelong glance at her. Flicking his beautiful Crystalline tail, Vis'ra mused about what would happen here on out.

When Capturing returned, he allowed for any sentimental moments to continue, before speaking.

"Master Capturing, if you are to accompany Master Kaireibutasou, I am of course, to come along."

[Kodai]

So... Capturing could now control his transformation... Kai wondered momentarily if he could do so, as well. Pausing just before the entrance to the downward sloping tunnel, he tried to focus his mind, to will himself to regain his natural form... and surprisingly, his body appeared to listen. He began to grow, his limbs and neck growing longer, his tail regaining its glory... The clothes still on his body sunk into his skin, which darkened to its proper color... And soon, he had become his Hollowheart self once more, the shard now sticking from the pulsing heart symbol on his chest. It continued to drip ichor, but Kai paid no heed to it. Now... we is going, he nodded, lightly brushing a wing over Cap as a sign of affection, and stepped forth into the dark tunnel.

Iiylis, as Kodai had called him, trotted faithfully after the Hollowheart, trusting that Kai knew where he was going. Apparently he had unfinished business of some sort, and was now off to finish it... He had a feeling that this business had to do with the Halls they had been in earlier, and he was a tad apprehensive, but... what needed to be done, needed to be done. It was not long before they caught up with Kodai, who was staring at the surroundings... her memories had caught up with her, it seemed. After giving the girl a gentle nudge with his head, Kai strutted straight for the stony body of Iiylumiel and again began to strain against it. However, unlike before, it began to shift with less effort on Kai's part...

A faint whisper rang through Kodai's mind just then and, startled, she spun to see who had called her. But... there was no one... Slightly louder, the call came, and, trancelike, she began to wander out of the White Halls. The farther she went, the more labyrinthine her surroundings became, until suddenly, she found herself staring out of a tunnel entrance into a large cavern, many smaller tunnels winding their way to and from this central place... Suddenly, Kodai felt a chill come over her, and lightly she fell to the stony floor, unconscious...