Prologue

The very first time that Kagura saw Kyou, it an indescribable pulling overcame her whole being. A magnetic sort of attraction, an obsession that only very few would understand. That year at the Jyuunishi Ball, when they were both little kids, she jumped on him happily, squealing "Kyou-kun!"

The adults gathered around them.

"He's a monster, what is she doing?"

"Really, the nerve of that girl!"

"How could anyone love him?"

Disapproving whispers circulated the crowd as both children looked up with wide eyes painted in innocence. The eyes that stared back were blank. Slowly, the crowd parted to let her through…their God through. Their God was not loving, not compassionate but a reeking mix of vengeful and bitter.

"Stupid girl, don't you know who you're clinging to?"

"Kyou-kun," Kagura whispered.

Akito laughed, the harsh sound echoing in the suddenly silent room.

"He's a monster. Do you love monsters?"

Kagura's face hardened, "I love this monster."

The air crackled with electricity. Nobody had challenged Akito's words in a long time. Akito's eyes narrowed as her face filled with rage. She grabbed the other girl's hair roughly.

"Impudent girl, stupid girl. I guess he's not the only beast. Weren't you born under the sign of the boar?"

Kagura screamed in a vivid mixture of fury and pain as she clawed at her matriarch's iron grip. Akito laughed mercilessly, "Stupid girl, monsters cannot help monsters. It's nev-"

"Akito-sama, stop."

The God ceased momentarily to turn towards the owner of the voice. Her eyes softened momentarily and her grip on Kagura's hair withered. Shigure rushed toward to catch Akito as she fell away from Kagura's still writhing form. Shigure clung tightly to Akito as Kagura regained her composure and whipped her head around in childish confusion until her pewter eyes fell on the face of a horrified Kyou. She ran to him, her small legs struggling with every step and hugged him to her chest.

In that frozen instant, both Shigure and Kagura understood that they were mirror images of each other. Shigure stared at his younger cousin, eyes flashing with discovery: two sides of the same tarnished coin.