Huh? Where am I? Why is it so dark? Why am I surrounded by nothing?

Rikuo? Oh glob, Rikuo? Where are you? Wasn't I just dying in your arms? Why am I suddenly here? WHERE AM I?

"Jean."

I turned my head, Tai was standing there, a small plate of cake in his hands.

"Tai, where is this?" I asked, taking in the complete nothingness around me.

"It's your unit in Dreamland, every user has one. They use it during their dreamland time." He replied. He then handed me the plate of cake, "Have some cake, you accomplished the arc."

"B-But I'm dead, aren't I?"

"No, you just died in the anime. You're still as alive as ever in real life."

Relieved, I looked around, "Why is it so dark in here?"

"Because you haven't put anything in here yet, silly."

"Can I put some chairs?"

At that, two chairs appeared in front of me, a table in the middle. Surprised, I muttered "How…?"

"It's Dreamland, anything can happen." Tai said as he sat down. "Now finish your cake, you have to wake up in a few minutes."

"But what about Rikuo? I have to tell him I'm okay!"

"I can reset their memories so it's like you never met them."

"No! I don't want that! I want to see Rikuo and tell him I'm fine!"

"Alright, I'll arrange for it." He stood up, taking the cake plate from me. Scumbag hands me a cake and takes it before I even get to eat it.

A door appeared. He grabbed hold of it, "I'll see if I can, I'll tell you the result when you get to sleep."

So my world starts swirling again. My last thoughts before I blacked out again? Damn you, Tai. Damn you.

Xxx

"Wake UP! You're brother and dad are already dressed and waiting for you! " at that, I jumped out of bed. I hit my mom's jaw in the process.

"Ah! SORRY!" I said and tried to get out of the room as fast as possible. I'm not gonna get a happy mom soon. Thankfully it's my dad's day to drive.

I rushed down the stairs of the small house I call home and ran into the bathroom, quickly dressing down and taking a shower. By the time I'm done, I grabbed a towel off the rack and put my hair in it. I put on my bathrobe and ran up to my room again. I got dressed and headed downstairs, quickly eating breakfast.

"Sorry I'm late, I was too caught up in my dream!" I apologized as I reached the garage, where my little brother and my dad were waiting by the car.

Xxx

So I got to school, as soon as I got there, I got assaulted by my friend.

As usual, she approached me from behind and gently wrapped her arms around my neck, "Yo Jean!"

"Hey, April." I sighed.

"What's up, Jean? Why the sad face?" Asked April as she padded around to face me. She had chin length black hair and bangs that covered her forehead, as usual, her heart headband was placed in her hair. She also has slightly tan skin and light brown eyes.

"Nothing, just a dream I had about Rikuo."

"Really? What happened?" She nudged.

April and I are both crazy Nura fans, we love it so much that during anime conventions, we stalk the Nura booths and growl at anyone who dares to touch anything. Last week's anime con was hilarious, there was this guy who wanted to by a Rikuo nendo and when he reached out for it, April growled and the guy was so scared he backed into the Black Rock Shooter booth, thus crushing Mato Kuroi.

"Nothing much, I just had this dream that's about Rikuo and epic stuff happens."

"De bakit ka malungkot?" (Then why are you so sad?)

"Wala." (Nothing.) "All I want to tell you is that I was part of that dream and in the end I died, leaving Rikuo to cry over me."

"Weh! Di nga!" (Seriously?)

"Yeah."

"You left him, Nura Rikuo, crying over your death?"

"Oo nga, kulit mo." (Yes. You're annoying.)

At that, the bell rang. "Ah! We should go before we get late, our first class is Math, and Ms. Gonzales isn't really the 'You're-late? Just-take-your-seat' type!" April said, dragging me by the hand to our math class.

Xxx

As usual, classes were boring. And as soon as we got to lunch, April started to ask me about my dream again.

"Jeeeeeaaaaaan, just tell me about your dreeeeeeaaaaaam." She said. Yes, that's really how long the Es and As were in what she said.

"No."

"Jeeeeeeaaaaan."

"No means no, April."

"Whyyyyy?"

"Shut up and I'll let you listen to Ronald Knox's LIBERTY PARTY right now."

"Tell me about your dream!"

"NO." No way am I explaining everything. I'm leaving Project Dreamland as out of it as Inugami, Tamazuki and Rikuo having crushes on me.

"Jeaaaaaaaan."

"I said no."

"C'mon, please?"

"UGH! KULIT MO TALAGA NO?!" (You're really annoying, you know that?!) I suddenly exploded, fed up with April and her annoyingness.

At that, I grabbed my bag and stormed off to the lockers.

Xxx

I got my stuff from my locker and slammed the door shut.

There's only one thing on my mind: Rikuo. He must be crying his eyes out right now, I mean, really, I died in front of him, why wouldn't he be crying? I can't stand it. The thought of Rikuo's sadness is killing me! Dammit, Tai, you better get me back in there or I'll freaking kill you!

I hit my head on the locker. I allowed myself to lean on it. I held back tears as I think my thoughts. Rikuo… I hope you're okay…

"Oi! Jean! Why'd you suddenly explode in front of April like that?"

"I am not in the mood, Maria." I said in a deadly tone.

My other friend, Maria, had long brown hair that reached half of her back, she also has tan skin and dark brown eyes. She's also awfully tall for our age, so I had to look up to meet her face.

"What's wrong, huh, Jean?" She bellowed.

"I'm just depressed." I sighed, slinging my bag over my shoulder and walking away.

Xxx

I found myself in the comfort room. I looked into the mirror. I remembered that moment with Rikuo.

Xxx

"Eh?" I looked at the mirror. At the reflection I saw, I screamed.

My long black hair had turned translucent white, a few silver lines running along my locks. My dark brown eyes had become bright pink-red, my pupils slit. My already pale skin was paler. I would've refused to accept that it was me, but I was wearing the same uniform, so it had to be me.

I looked to Rikuo, He was staring at me intently, "What are you really?" he asked, taking a cautious step towards me.

"I don't know…" I muttered, my legs wobbling. "I'm human… I have been since I was born… how could I be a yokai…?"

This scared the hell out of me, as much as I dreamed to be a yokai so I could join the Shikoku Hachijuhyakki, this scared the hell out of me.

What happened to me while I was sleeping?

"Kirei, be honest, what are you?" Rikuo asked.

"I don't know…" I fell on my knees, shaking. "I don't know anymore…"

"Kirei…"

"Stop saying that name." I muttered, "My name isn't Kirei, it's—"

Before I said anything further, I thought about it. If I told Rikuo my real name, what'll happen? But Tamazuki did say use any means to get the info… Uh! Dammit, Jean! Get it together! Remember your orders!

"You were saying?" Rikuo nudged.

"N-Nothing." I sighed, regaining my composure, "Never mind, I don't want to hear my name, I'm fine with going by Kirei."

"Kirei, huh?" He smirked at that, soon, I found his hand on my chin, prompting my head up so he could look at my eyes (where has that happened before?), "Such lovely eyes you have… I can see why your name is Kirei, 'beauty' suits you well."

I blushed. Does every guy here want me?

Stomach it. Tamazuki's orders, remember them. You have to follow them. If you don't want to die. Follow your orders.

But honestly, can I really betray Rikuo? The character I practically worshipped? The guy that had looks that were second to Tamazuki? I don't know if I can, because again, I'm helping the bad guy for no good reason.

"Who are you?" I repeated. At least I could say his name, I'm starting to hate still having to play dumb.

"My parade calls me Rikuo." He replied.

"I see." I sighed, relieved I don't have to play dumb towards his name anymore.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, "Rikuo, do you have any weaknesses?" I muttered unconsciously.

"Weaknesses?" He stared at me quizzically, but soon smirked. "I have many." He pulled my face closer, "One of them is you."

I could feel my face filling with blood. Stupid blush. Stupid blood, stop running to my face! "W-Why w-w-w-would you s-say that?" I stammered. What has been heard cannot be unheard.

"Well… you're cute and also mysterious, I find that interesting." His smirk widened, "I want you."

My face cracked into an awkward grin. HOLY (BLEEP) DID NURA RIKUO JUST SAY HE WANTSME?!

"R-R-R-Rikuo… c-can you l-l-l-let go of m-me now?" I blushed. I was finding out more of my weaknesses than of Rikuo's.

"Hmm… I'd rather not, I like you this way." He said tauntingly. Dammit, man! Are even youtrying to kill me with a nosebleed?

"Ah!" I squeaked as he pushed me, I landed on his bed with him on top of me, inside, I was like 'KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAHHHHHHHHHH!'

"I'm sure of it," Rikuo smirked, leaning in closer and bringing his head to my neck, I turned redder than a tomato! "I really want you…" He said against my skin.

Tamazuki was right, he and Rikuo really are alike. Both hot, both sexy (;D), both leaders of demons, both perverts who apparently want to steal my virginity before I'm even 18.

I tried to struggle under him, but he apparently pinned my wrists down with a firm grip. "R-Rikuo! Get off of me!"

Xxx

So help me, I looked at the mirror again. I saw my yokai form. No, really. I saw it, my form with white hair and pink-red eyes.

Rikuo… Rikuo… I know you're just a character but… I saw it in your eyes, you had emotions… you cared… Rikuo… please… let me see you again… let me tell you I'm alright…

My thoughts were shattered as the school bell rang. Damn. I don't feel like going to classes. But seeing as I don't want to get in trouble, I went to my classes any way.

But before I left the comfort room, I glanced at the mirror. I was back to my normal self in the reflection.

It's all just a dream created by Tai and Project Dreamland… Rikuo is just a character… But I saw it in his eyes, he cared about me.

Xxx

As soon as I got home, I dropped onto my bed. Maybe I could continue my dreams now?

Oh wait, I have homework. Meh. I don't care. What I want to do is to sleep so I can see Rikuo again.

I turned onto my side and stared at the neatly filed set of Nurarihyon no mago mangas cramped on a row in my cabinet.

I stood up and reached for volume number 6, where the battle with Rikuo and Tamazuki was. I browsed through the pages and found the part where Rikuo defeats Tamazuki. There's that moment all over again.

I stared at the page intently. My memories from my Dreamland time running.

Xxx

I coughed out some blood. The Devil's Hammer driven straight through my vitals.

I had jumped in front of Rikuo at the last moment because I knew that he couldn't take out the Nenekirimaru in time for him to block the Devil's Hammer, so I used myself to shield him.

With the sword in me, I started to hear the screams and wails of the souls that reside in this rusty old sword. The shouts of confusion and anger, the screams of betrayal, the pleas to be saved, the cries to be released. It was all frightening. I looked at the blood dyed faces of the murdered Hyakki, all of them contorted in pain.

I felt sorry for them, but knowing I would soon end up the same, I just felt fear. How could Tamazuki wield this damn thing? The wielder could probably hear the sound the sword emitted, how could he even hold this and not go insane?

"Tch." Tamazuki drew back the sword.

My vitals destroyed, I was too weak to even stand. As soon as the sword was pulled out of me, I fell back, stunned while bleeding to my death.

"Kirei!" Rikuo said as he caught me. Shot before I reached the ground, nice catch.

My vision blurred, my head spun, I felt light all over. So this is dying, huh?

"Kirei, stay with me, please, Kirei!" Rikuo begged, he was squeezing my hand.

I focused my blurry vision on Rikuo's beautiful crimson eyes, he seemed scared. Scared to lose me? Nah. It couldn't be.

"Rikuo…" I muttered weakly.

"Kirei, please! Stay alive! Stay with me!"

I'm sorry… but I can't…

"Kirei! Please, don't die! KIREI!"

My vision blurred further. I could feel my life leaving me.

"KIREI! KIREI!" What am I feeling on my face? It feels wet… tears? Tears? Is Rikuo… crying? Over me?

"Kirei… please, don't die! I want you to stay alive! Please, Kirei!"

The last thing I saw behind blurry eyes was Rikuo's teary crimson red eyes. I sighed. I at least wanted to spend some time with him before my time here ends.

I stilled a small smile on my face. "Kirei! Stay alive! KIREI!"

After that, I saw only darkness.

"KIREI!"

Xxx

"Jean, dinner!" My mom called from downstairs.

Sighing, I placed the book on my bed. I tried to still myself as I went down the staircase, my family and friends don't need to know about what happened in Project Dreamland.