The queen's voice changed, omitting an ear-splitting shriek that sent the ground beneath them shaking. Something like a rushing wave could be heard at a distance, getting closer and closer...their legs started to sink into the snow...

"Fuck." Blindly, Sanzo aimed and shot, but to no avail. He had to take the chance...so when he opened his eyes, it was enough to see a tornado ripping its way through the ground towards them.

At its approach, Tenpou followed suit. "Gods..." he gasped. "Sanzo! We have to get out of the snow!"

"No shit!" Having the rest of his body torn from his legs was definitely NOT something he wanted to think about right now...or ever. Dammit, it was hard to think, especially with that hellstorm getting nearer. He almost didn't hear Tenpou speak...stay close to me?...is that what he said?...Then a green bubble began to form around them- close, warm, slightly suffocating, but it melted the snow...the earth was convulsing more as the tornado neared ...or was that him shaking? A strong arm wrapped around his shoulders. A calm voice whispered in his ear. "Trust me. Just stay close, ne?" Like the earth was being severed from his very feet...and then there was total blackness. And then there was nothing.

****

The blood ran warm over his hands, ran in little rivulets on the floor, little rivers of tainted celestial blood. Hakkai rammed the sword through the gut of his fifteenth, leaving fifteen more. The body fell against him and he shrugged it off. Wet and sticky, the red fluid stuck to his boots as he kicked one corpse to the side, as he swung back and beheaded another one. That's sixteen.

Smoke crept over his head, the fire that he started spreading from its source into other rooms. He checked his shoulder wound. It had reopened, yet he didn't feel it. Another scream, another stab, but this time, Hakkai fell to the ground as well. The room was spinning, suddenly getting colder. He felt a gust of icy wind, his vision going blurry and for a moment...a flash of an instant...he could see the snowy mountain town where he had been...no...not now... The healer shook his head. Stay here! he scolded himself stubbornly.

In a fit of desperation, Hakkai heaved himself up and impaled two youkai into the wall as if they were butterflies. He didn't bother retrieving the sword. Instead, he picked up a dagger dropped by a fallen enemy, trying to ignore the sound of pouring rain that was echoing in his ears.

Twelve more.

When Tenpou opened his eyes, his gaze was met by two beady blood red jewels ingrained in the head of a small creature...white...with wings...that looked like...