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Kurai couldn't help but grin in spite of herself at the sudden revelation, but she hid it quickly. She would have been lying if she said she wasn't pleased to know that she was the first person who had gone this far with Nick.

"You don't need to know what to do..." she said, slowly feeling her way down to where his towel was and carefully loosening it. "That's what I'm here for right now. And Nick," she smiled at him as the towel came off. "I'm not doing this just for the hell of it, just to let you know."

I think I love you, and I think you know that... Don't you?

With that, she pressed her lips to his once more and led them through the night, until every fiber of them was nothing but pleasure and warmth, hands in places and lips breathing out each other's names, whispers and sounds and everything that this was supposed to be; until everything was nothing. Just the two of them.

Kurai couldn't think straight--all she knew was that this had never happened before to either of them, not in this way, not like it actually meant something. Knowing that it did made it so much more...

---

A long while later found Kurai with her head lain on Nick's warm chest, his arms draped over her, their hearts pounding furiously together. Her hand rested on one of his shoulders and she breathed in nothing but his scent; it was wonderful.

For the first time, it was like nothing else mattered. How she wished it would stay that way.

"Nick," she breathed out in an almost inaudible voice. "Why can't it just stay this way..."

Kurai smiled back. The chances of them ever being just like this again were slim to none, but it was there. And as long as it was, she would keep trying to have it.

"One day," she repeated, liking the sound of it. "One day soon. We'll get there... I just know we will..."

She kissed Nick one more time.

I'll do anything it takes for that day to come. Anything.

With that thought, a tired Kurai drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and secure. She would worry about tomorrow when it came, but for now... They could be happy.

After her first ever dreamless sleep, Kurai woke up feeling contented and warm. Recollections of what had happened just a few hours ago entered her mind, and she thought them over before opening her eyes.

The rain had stopped; it wasn't sunny outside but at least it wasn't pouring anymore. Whatever light there was filtered through the dusty window and fell upon the loveseat, where their clothes were suspended and fully dry. It was as if it was reminding her that it was a new day.

Kurai got up, looking at Nick who seemed to be having a carefree sleep as well. She lovingly brushed some hair out of his eyes and kissed his cheek.

"Morning," she whispered. "Our clothes should be okay now. I'll be taking a shower for a sec, alright?"

While taking a shower, Kurai tried to let everything sink in. She couldn't stop herself from feeling pleased about it; she had achieved two things at once, after all. She had been succesful in taking Nick's mind off things, and as for the second... Well, she didn't want to assume just yet, but she couldn't help it. Kurai thought about it cheerfully as she combed her fingers through her hair, now standing in front of the mirror.

"Trust me, dear, it won't be for long."

The menacing voice felt like a bullet to Kurai's head, and she stood there in shock. She knew only she could hear it, that she could run away, but something kept her rooted to the spot. Her eyes remained wide and she stared at her reflection.

"Go away, Sonneillon," she growled.

"Such informality now..."

"I'm not letting you near him. Leave us alone!"

A cackle. "And how can I leave you alone?" It took on a more menacing tone. "Need I remind you that you are me?"

Kurai's reflection wavered and formed into a black mass of shadow for a split second, and she saw those burning red eyes in her own face--

Before she knew what happened, her knuckles had split from the impact her fist had made on the mirror that was now nothing except a pile of shards.

Another cackle came, but it soon faded away. "Don't miss me too much, love... I'll be back."

Kurai clutched the armrest of the chair tightly, dizzy in a whirl of thought.

"Sonneillon's right," she said a while later, her voice steady despite what she had to say. "He's right. We can't ever run away from him. I am him." Her eyes fell on Nick. "That's why no one, not even your father, could destroy him after all this time... Because no matter what, a piece of him is still in me. I doubt he'll try, Nick, but if ever Sonneillon uses me to get to you again, promise that you won't hesitate to kill me."

Kurai did wish there was some way to get out of this mess without anyone dying; she didn't want to go, not now. Not when she had finally found something to live for. The look of determination on Nick's face said it as well. He isn't going to let anything happen...

...to me?

"I believe you," Kurai said quietly. "You'll find a way--no, we will find a way."

Silence ensued. Trying to lift the tension that had settled on them, she attempted a grin and shifted her voice into a convincingly playful tone. "But first... maybe you'd like to find your way to the bathroom. Unless..." She pecked him on the lips. "...You want to have another go," she nodded towards the bed mischievously, then laughed and stood up, pushing him towards the door. "Haha, just take a shower so we can figure out our next step and get out of here. Careful with the broken glass..."

Once Nick was in the bathroom, Kurai flopped down onto the bed, taking the happy mask off and giving a loud sigh.

"This life will be the death of me..."

Catherine walked around the bar. She couldn't still feel aura of Karin. But once she step near the exit door... She felt a big Aura of Karin. Once she sighed back off her was a voice... "Hellooo, My dear sister...Wasn't it already time for me to meet you?" Karin told with a confidence...

Nick took his shower and stepped outside the bathroom. He made his way towards the love seat to get his clothes while Kurai was staring at the window. He then started dressing up, moving fast so that he would be done before the demon incarnate would turn around.

"So, you ready?" Nick asked as he wore his gloves and fixed his silver hair. "It's gonna be a long walk, around 3-4days on foot. That's after a 2hour drive out of the city though." He knew the place he was going was isolated from the world, the perfect place to put the Gates to the Underworld, safely masked as a harmless castle.