The boy hid behind Hakkai's coat with childish suspicion. "They smell...like blood."

"I requested that they not be allowed to return." Shien confessed quietly. "But it seems that it never reached the higher ups."

Goku's oblivious-to-the-world counting resumed. "Twenty-five, twenty-six..."

Youkai, Hakkai thought frenetically, youkai in heaven. Youkai in the bodies of kami. Just as he was a youkai, in the body of a kami. Hell in heaven.

"Twenty-seven, twenty eight..."

There was no question of who, but what- and he could divine that as well. Thirty youkai in the bodies of thirty, now-dead heavenly soldiers...they didn't march, they stalked, their hunger barely suppressed. They glared beneath those glazed eyes, thirty pairs of them, thirsted, licked their lips, thirty tongues grazing over sharp teeth.

"They'll spill blood here..." Hakkai choked out as he looked to Shien who had returned to close his eyes.

"And I can only think of two men who have the influence to stand in their way." The man with the bandaged arms turned started to walk in the direction opposite of the Holy City's main street. "I am afraid that with my position in Nataku-sama's army, I can do no more for you. See to your foolish general," He stopped in thought, as if wondering whether to continue with what he was about to say. "Take back his heart before the archer up there pins it to his body."

"Twenty-nine! Aren't you proud of me Ten-chan? I counted all the soldiers. Twenty-nine!"

*****