Duo Merquise sat in the centre of her bed, leaning backwards so her spine curved into the cool surface of the wall, her knees pulled up under her chin. Her hair lay in a wavy mass about her, obscuring her features along with the shadows’ plague. Her thin, toned arms draped over her legs as she twiddled the ends of her hair between her forefinger and thumb. She meditated on the chestnut tips, noticing the splintered ends due to lack of care…that wasn’t like her…one of the few things she valued was her braid, but fighting with the titans gave her little time to ensure her braid was in good condition. She didn’t really care…she had often threatened to shave her head completely…just to see the horrified look laced into Cissie’s features.

The white bedspread upon which she sat was disarray, she had been twisting and turning in her bed, attempting to fall asleep, to rest her racing mind. Now she sat in silence, attempting to block out the faint snoring coming from the sleeping form of her room mate Cassandra Sandsmark, aka Wonder girl.

Duo sighed to herself…she didn’t know why true sleep alluded her, whenever she closed her eyes, she could sleep but it was always disrupted, fragmented images clouding her dreams, shattering the blissful unconscious state…memories…

She couldn’t stand it anymore…the hollow silence of the room, ruptured only when Cassie took in or dispelled a breath was slowly driving her insane…

She stood quickly, and silently crossed the room to her dresser, the carpeted floor absorbing the sound her feet made. She withdrew a pair of black, tight fitting trousers. Discarding her pyjama bottoms she slipped into them, curving to the muscles of her legs. Her PJ top soon followed as she donned a royal blue, long, V-sleeved shirt.

She gathered her discarded PJs and placed them on her bed, gingerly folding them into a neat pile, she then walked with a determined stride to the bay windows of her room and opened them wide, feeling the crisp night air beckoning her. Arching her back she focussed on her wings, feeling them protrude from her spine to take formation, the pale moonlight glistening off their surface, gaining them an eerie aura…

She threw herself out of the window, her wings spread wide as she flapped enthusiastically to gain altitude; the thermals eluded her due to the night times cold temperature. She graced the sky with her athletic charm, twirling through the blackened mass of clouds, swirling their semi-solid forms between her hands as she rushed past them at neck breaking speed. She flew aimlessly, with no destination in mind, just relishing the feeling of flying and how it freed both her body and her mind.

In the absence of sanity she dived suddenly, her fingers stretched before her, her hands the shapes of knives to reduce air resistance. Her wings she withdrew fully into her back so she was nothing but a helpless mortal, plummeting through the sky to her doom, the air that she relished doing little to stop her descent except to billow at her clothes, thrashing at the buttons of the shirt as though to claim the person within…

The specks of light that illuminated the ground below steadily grew, their illuminate glare manifesting as she drew ever closer, and still she did not call upon her wings…She wanted to see those lights grow…swell to the point that they consumed her vision and they were all she could see…she didn’t want to see the dark anymore…

Her taut fingers she spread before her, her fingers curling as though to catch the light, she watched fascinated as they seemed to increase between her palms, and suddenly she could see past the light. She could see the cold, dense City beneath the lights they expelled. Could make out the shadowed figures that obscured the light’s glory, that blemished it’s splendour…and she realised almost too late that the light was not the majestic presence of the light of heaven that she had turned away from before…but a expulsion of energy tossed away by the City, who’s dwellers withdrew from it. Because it would disclose the violent nature of the city’s basis. Even now the City’s scum crawled into the streets, prowling the paths searching for victims…

And she awoke from her muddled daze, the state or regression she had accidentally fallen into as her mind sought release…
…Her wings unfurled to the command of her mind, fear never touched her features nor her heart as she controlled the velocity of her decent, decreasing the acceleration slowly as not the strain her wings…even so she was falling fast, the ground surging up to meet her as she tried to breach gravity’s hold.

She landed upon the concrete slabs of the City with an endless elegance, her feet softly touching the ground. She stepped from the sky to the earth, her black-clad legs not even needing to absorb the impact for her wings had stopped her decent in time…The adrenaline pumped through her veins, igniting her senses. Her entire body was on fire, tingling from head to toe from the rush of her experience…she felt good and she couldn’t help but allow a faint smirk.

She clenched and unclenched her hands, flexing her fingers to get rid of the mild cram that had caused them to seize up.

<<Now that was fun!>> she concluded, flapping her wings twice before she withdrew them into her back once more, she twirled in a tight circle, swirling the mass of skyscrapers and business buildings into a blur, watching the lights mesh, stopping sharply she ran down the streets, her arms pumping as she willed her body on. Her breath started to come in sharp intakes, her chest threatening to burst from the strain…this had become a habit, she would thrash her body until fatigue took her and she could rest undisturbed.

She stopped sharply as she felt the presence…an aura that seemed strangely familiar but shielded from her at the same time, she crouched low into a fighting stance and she called upon her extendable, thermal scythe, it appeared instantly in her hands and she twirled it sharply, igniting the green flame. She brandished it expertly and brought it before her, as she stared with intent into the shadows of an alleyway in between two buildings.

The alley was not exactly hygienic, it the walls were cake in excreted waste, leaving behind both a visible stain and a wretched smell that would make most people heave…Duo ignored it, she had smelt many things worse then human excrements…
The sound of scratching claws on pavement alerted her to the rats that festered between the rubbish bins, ripping through the discarded waste searching for a meal.

She twirled her scythe threateningly also allowing the light emitted from the thermal blade to illuminate the area.

A faint noise from behind her caused her to spin sharply, bringing down the scythe in an overhead arch…

…A red energy beam shot the weapon from her hands and it landed with a loud clatter several feet away…she made no attempt to recover it…

“Nice to see you still know how to greet people little Shinigami!” came the rich laughter.

“You…”

“You…” her words died in the still air of the back alley, barely ruffling the dormant airways. She stood tense, her entire posture radiating an intense dislike and possible danger, depicted through her coiled muscles. Like a cat with it’s back hunched, ready to either fight or flee.

Her eyes scanned over the frame of the owner’s voice…

He stood roughly 5”7, a couple of inches taller then herself. His lean physique was clasped in muscle, but not overly so. Maintaining his slender frame, which was clasped, in a tight fitting, rich, rouge top that complimented him well. He wore black trousers, a similar design to her own that allowed easy movements without bogging the owner down with excess material.

He had one hand extended out towards her from where he had fired his energy beam, his elongated, nimble fingers poised readily to fire another shot if she appeared threatening.

Lastly her eye focussed upon his face, beautifully sculptured, his cheekbones high and defined gave him a feel of aristocratic authority, and he held his head high, his jaw was strong and had a defiant edge to it, all of which was encased in creamy white, unblemished skin, pulled taut over his skeletal frame. His hair was jet black with a stream of white running from the crown down through the fringe that fell forward, obscuring the eyes.

His eyes…an apparition of lightning striking ice, wrapped in a violet glaze, too impeccably foreboding to be that of mortal man…

He smiled widely at the instant recognition reflected in the depths of her onyx eyes, his pearl teeth a stark contrast to the black night the enveloped them. Leisurely he lowered his hand as his eyes traced over her frame, lingering on various “assets” but resting longest on her face, with a look of barely contained anticipation.

“You’re looking good Shinigami, “ he said directing his speech towards her, his voice like steel wrapped in silk, sensuously disturbing. “Very good…” he trailed off, muttering the last part to him self as he leaned against the alley wall, his arms resting lazily across his chest, an action of extreme cockiness and confidence as he lowered his immediate defences.

“Vittorio…” she hissed out through clenched teeth, her gaze never wavering as she took in his confident stance, cockily so as he relaxed against the waste-smeared wall, “What the hell do you want?” She asked, her voice vindictively venomous as she regarded him.

“Shinigami!” He said in mock horror, placing a feminine hand upon his chest in a dramatised action, “I’m mortified, is that any way to address an old comrade?” He asked with a wink, pushing himself from the wall and slaughtering over to her, his movements precise and calculating, blocking her path to the alley’s mouth.

A scornful expression consumed her face as she observed him, her skin beginning to crawl as he approached her, edging forward, breeching the gap. She could feel him, the blackened essence from which he was created, just as she was…it oozed off of him, caressing the air, she could taste it…a bare flicker against her senses but it was intoxicating!

Her stomach clenched as she felt her hunger make itself evident to her, demanding to receive her attention…to be quenched.

It was always there, a gnawing sensation that she had learnt to cope with many years ago, she hadn’t yielded to the sensation very often since she had joined the Titans…she had used it in interrogation but had never actually killed anyone since she had taken Cassie’s soul. That day…had been a turning point…it had set a chain of events in motion that had brought about her freedom from Lucifer, brought about an opportunity for redemption which she was determined to see through.

Whatever Vittorio’s purpose here was, she knew instinctively that it would not be good, or pleasant…

She surged to the side, her feet smacking the concrete hard as she reached for her scythe, it slipped into her hand and she twirled it expertly between her fingers, she brought it in front of her just in time to parry several blasts directed at her, the orbs of red energy ricocheting off her green blade. Her entire scythe oscillated from the impact, causing her arms to shake violently, cramping the muscles. Her fingers ached painfully but she would not be swayed as she span to avoid a blast aimed for her shoulder, which would have disarmed her.

As the fight raged Duo called upon her wings, feeling them protrude from her spine, she visualised their whitened frames and the feathers that enveloped them while she also tried to spare her hide from being fried. It wasn’t easy…Vittorio had the advantage, he could fight long distance, she needed to be within arm’s reach to use either her scythe or here powers. And in this case her powers were not an option…

Vittorio was a servant of Satan, just as she had been except he was many years her senior in the trade. When they she and the rest of the Titans had fought against Satan she had been called upon to drink his essence, evil in it’s purest form, but unlike now she had others with pure hearts who had cancelled out the effects of the black essence. Vittorio’s essence would only be a slightly more diluted form of Satan’s…it could easily consume her…she couldn’t afford to take that chance…

“Shinigami…good to see you can still hold your own!” Vittorio said laughing as he fired a series of short bursts at Duo’s feet, the ground beneath her feet cracked and the pavement shattered. Duo swayed on her feet, she attempted to maintain her footing and upright posture but the effort caused her too loose focus on her wings, stopping them half way out.

Instantly she was upon the floor, a combination of the quaking earth beneath her and the excruciating pain radiating through her back.

Her head became muffled, and functioning on pure instinct her mind called on the withdrawal of her wings and along with it the pain shooting up and down her spine.

Vittorio grabbed Duo by her hair, ripping her head back, ignoring the trickle of blood that seeped from her scalp where the hairs were being ripped from their roots. He yanked her off the floor and slammed her hard into one of the walls…if it wasn’t for the direness of the situation Duo was in she would have complained about the newly acquired excrete waste she now had creating a pattern on one of her favourite tops.

Vittorio placed his forearm over her chest, restricting her breathing and pinning her arms to her side, then he upper cupped her unguarded ribs, feeling the delicious sensation of bones fissuring beneath his touch along with the pained grunt he received from his victim.

“Come on my little Shinigami…aren’t you going to scream for me?” He whispered his face but inches from hers, his breath hot upon her face, contorted in pain but determined to try and hide her discomfort.

“You did a bad, bad thing my little Shinigami…now why did you go and have to disobey the master?” He asked rhetorically as he thrust his knee into her mid section, feeling a sick pleasure from her slumping form, she would have doubled over if her wasn’t still pinning her to the wall.

“You had it all! A great job…” A elbow to the side of the face, “A great boss…” palm heel to the shoulder almost succeeding in dislocating the joint. “Numerous perks, despair, destruction, death,” with each word he delivered another blow, ripping into her defenceless body. Yet through the haze of pain, through the mists of dizziness endorsed by the pain that ruptured her body in a sickened rhapsody all she could hear were his words, all she could feel was the hunger fuelled by his proximity to her…and she knew that he knew, it was evident in the malicious glint in those violet pools.
“And great comrades who’d have loooved to have shown you a good time.” He whispered edging closer, wiping away a faint trail of blood that had seeped from between her parted lips, he rubbed the sticky, copper liquid between his thumb and forefinger, observing how it slithered over his finger tips, slick as it seeped into the crevices of his flesh, imprinting into the grooves.

“The boss still wants his compensation…he had a good little bet going with you and those DAMN” the forearm shifted to her throat causing her chin to be pushed upwards, her downcast eyes made to stare into his sadistically malevolent eyes, “TITANS!!! He wanted them…most of all that Damn Harm!!!” Vittorio spat the name with ultimate distaste, “and he’s always had a soft spot for you my little Shinigami, he let you go in anger…he doesn’t like to loose!” He moved in closer, never removing the forearm against her throat or the pressure he applied to it. He pressed himself up against her frame, enjoying how she winced in pain and flinched away.

<<No…it’s too much…too strong…>> She was drowning. The tides, the radiating black essence was confounding, she desired it so much she ached, but at the same time she was revolted by it. <<I have to hold out…I can’t let it…end like…this!>>

In a final act of desperation she kicked out with her foot and connected with Vittorio’s shin although the impact had little force, and even though the attack had been unexpected it’s mild nature merely caused him to laugh as he shook his leg to alleviate the pain and he back handed Duo across her left cheek, pain exploded behind her eyes, causing a kaleidoscope of colours to manifest before her vision and all she could see was light…

Vittorio grabbed her chin and forced her unfocussed eyes to stare into his own, “he wants you back…we want you…” his smile consumed his features once more, a depiction of the true soul within, a soul whose thrive was the sickened pleasure of others pain. He saw her fogged expression, flaccid head. “You can’t fight it in this state my little Shinigami…you cannot resist me…” and his words died as he kissed her fully on the lips, no longer pinning her to the wall he clasped her in an embrace as he force-fed a fraction of his essence into her, igniting the raw hunger…and she could no longer hold back…
…She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed back hungrily, with urgency as she attempted to devour his soul…<<Please…please someone…help…help me…>> was he last thought as she began to drown... ...drown in the flurries of black hate, murderous glee, sickenly sinister intentions, all of it poured into her...

Will was tossing and turning in his bed. As usual he was having a hard time sleeping, whenever he'd go to sleep, his nightmares would keep him up. He'd see the looks on the faces he'd killed, then he'd see his face showing no remorse, once more he snapped awake. The nightmares were worst tonight for some reason. He then suddenly got a flash, similar to the one he'd gotten when both Gosai and Cassie were dying. But this one was slightly different, whoever it was wasn't dying, they were calling for help, he finally recognized the call. "Duo.." He said as his eyes flashed white and his clothes were transformed into his costume. He wasn't sure if he should call for help or not, but he'd find that out after he helped Shinigami.

Harm shadowported into the alley and saw a beat up Shinigami starting to take someone's soul. He then saw that the other person was actually a demon, and a high level one at that. Harm didn't know what was going on yet, but what he did know was that Shinigami couldn't handle all that dark energy and keep control. She was acting out of self defense. Harm's eyes began to glow red as he fires a huge beam of energy at Vittorio, catching him by suprise and driving him into the other wall in the alley.

Harm quickly ran to Shinigami. "Duo? Are you ok?"

Vittorio was hit from the side by a blast of red energy, driving him backwards into a wall; his grip on Duo had been disconnected, the kiss broken…

His side tingled from the blast, but he felt no pain as his eyes settled upon the figure of Harm, who was currently rushing to Shinigami’s side.

His anger bubbled within him, uprising as his hands glowed a malicious red, the energy pulsating through his fingers…

Duo was slouched upon the floor, her breathing ragged as she felt her stomach cramp, the black energy flowed with vigour through her veins, enriching her senses, captivating her mind in it’s wake and she wanted more…so much more…

"Duo? Are you ok?" The appearance of Will had severed the connection Vittorio had established, but the appearance of a second person with blackened essence was too much…her sanity was fringing as Will stepped closer, his proximity causing more damage then help.

“St…Stay back!!!” Duo screamed, scrambling on her hands and knees away from Will…away from the dark. She span to the wall behind her, her forehead resting on its cool surface and she clenched her eyes shut, attempting to ease the pounding in her skull.

It came in flashes, fragmented images of memories both old and new…faces…alive and deceased. She saw the faces of those who had been left dead in her wake, their mouths ajar with unheard screams, and their eyes bulging with a look of terror, with the look of death. She had never felt remorse for the lives she had taken, excluding Cassie, but since she had joined the Titans her want of others lives had decreased. She had initially never intended to hurt anyone…she came back to help people, the hunger was the “catch” she hadn’t expected…her curse for good intentions…good intentions that had swiftly been forgotten until her meeting with the Titans…

“Stay…back…Will, please…” she managed to choke out.

Vittorio surged forward, placing himself between Harm and Shinigami. “You heard the lady!” Vittorio said scornfully, his eyes narrowed to little more the serrated slits carved into his face as he stared at the form of Harm, his seething anger bursting through. “She’s mine!” And with that he fired his energy beams at close range, double handed, aimed for Harm’s chest…

Harm was caught off guard by Duo's scream. But it all came together. Shinigami's hunger grew more with the darkness. His appearance there was actually hurting her more than it was helping. But he couldn't leave her alone with that demon, he could only hope that she could fight her hunger.

"She's mine!"

Harm's eyes opened wide as he was shot down by Vittorio's blast. He was able to sheild himself from the majority of the blast as slid across the ground, before using the force of the blow to flip himself back up. Harm didn't recognize the guy, but he knew his energy blast when he felt it. This guy was apparently sponsored by Gneyre, the same demon he was. Harm slowly got up and glared at Vittorio. "I don't know who you or nor do I even care. But when you attack my friend and claim her as your property..." Harm's eyes started glowing a brighter red. "...I have a slight problem with that." His hands began to burn as he unleashed another blast of energy, and was slightly suprised at himself because while the first blast was meant as a warning this was a kill shot.

Will told himself, that he did it because this guy was endangering Duo. He told himself that this guy is pretty skilled so he'll probably avoid the shot anyway. But in all honesty he wasn't sure anymore. Maybe all the darkness that was in this alley was affecting him as it was apparently affecting Duo. But he wasn't going to let Vittorio take her. Harm always felt sort of sorry for Duo, while he came into the darkness because of his own choice, but Duo was forced into it because some idiots thought that it'd be fun to torture her. She was trying to have some semblance of a normal life. And he'd be damned if he was going to let some punk demon bring her back.

Duo barely noticed as Harm went careering backwards, she was using every ounce of her will power to refrain from passing out and giving in.

<Cass...Cassie> her mind whispered to her. Her mind was a festering field of semi-formed thoughts that died in mid growth, dried out in the darkness's cascade. She tried to direct her thoughts to Cassie and locate the section of her soul that resided within her. It was but a small speck amidst the dark and it slipped through her fingers, just as the city lights had when she had free-falled but moments earlier. That blissful escape seemed like an entire lifetime ago...so many lives she had lived through...all of which were laced in suffering...torture, slavery and now this...

...She had been getting back on track, theoretically, dealing with her hunger, no longer needing it to survive but desiring it all the same. She had acquired comrades, friends...one of which was there now. He didn't have to be, he could have left her, saved himself the trouble of her failing spirit...of her inability to control herself...

"I don't know who you or nor do I even care. But when you attack my friend and claim her as your property...I have a slight problem with that."

"Will..." the images grew in strength, their clarity improving. She could see their faces...her friends, Greta, Cissie, Cassie and herself watching late night TV at Elias High even though it was lights out, attempting to remain silent even though there laughter was an expulsion of their happiness.
Supersonic giggling to himself as he pulled off another hair-brained scheme, Will smiling coyly at the eagerness of either Cassie or Greta. Cody smiling at her fondly as they ate through numerous hotdogs at the BBQ. Then she remembered the pain...the pain that their trip to Hell had cause, Flacon's unquenchable tears as Robin slipped from them...

She held onto all these images…her links, maintaining as much focus as she could…enough till she could come to terms with this new energy…to get some form of control back…

The blast Harm aimed hit it’s mark, slamming into Vittorio with the calculated force harm had applied to it, Vittorio’s sinister snigger alerted those around that the intended purpose of the blast had failed.

“That Harm…” he said, mockery lacing his tongue, “was pathetic!” He tilted his head to the side sharply, forcing the vertebrae of his neck to crack loudly. “You’re going soft Harm…” he said, emphasising the point that he knew who Harm was, “You use to be something in your own right…now you go about playing good Samaritan, saving the damsels in distress!” He cackled, a shrieking sound that was painful on the ears.

“She is mine…” he stalked over to Shinigami with incredible speed, standing over her, his expression one of twisted glee. “I’m taking her back to Hell…even if I have to break her completely to do so!” Vittorio whispered viciously, firing up both of his hands, the red intensity of the energy’s glare illuminated his face and cast shadows into the crevices.

“And there’s no way you can stop me…I might even take you along for the ride, I’m sure the master can think of a few things to do with you!” Vittorio threatened, surging forward to place a hand on either side of Harm’s head in the blink of an eye…he let loose his blasts...

"You use to be something in your own right...now you go about playing good Samaritan, saving the damsels in distress!"

Harm's eyes flashed as he heard the taunt. He knew that's all it was, but it didn't stop it from getting under his skin. Whoever this guy was he was a pretty high level demon, and had at least one of Harm's sponsors, pressing a constant attack on him wouldn't do any good. It'd be best to feel him out first, control his anger. Harm crosses his arms as he looked Vittorio dead in the eyes. "Two things, One, I still am something in my own right, you're simply pale imitation of me. And two, Shin is far from a damsel in distress." He said, his voice extra dry.

"I'm taking her back to Hell...even if I have to break her completely to do so!...And there's no way you can stop me...I might even take you along for the ride, I'm sure the master can think of a few things to do with you!"

"If you think that I can't stop you, it only shows your ignorance. And furthermore, it would take someone a hell of a lot better than you to take me down there." Harm growled, an obvious nod to Shinigami, the only person to take him to Hell. He wanted to attack now, but he was holding himself back, despite how he was talking down to Vittorio he could tell that this wouldn't be an easy fight and Duo was in no position to help him. "You think that because you've embraced your darkness it makes you stronger than me. It's always easier to let loose than it is to restrain yourself, heh, I embraced evil when I was 14, it's not really that hard. That's how I see you, no better than a 14 year old." While the main reason behind this was to throw off Vittorio, he did mean it. He had been told that Shinigami respected him, but in truth he respected her as well. She had to deal with the hunger 24/7 and she didn't give in, it takes a strong character to do that. It's something he was sure this guy couldn't do if his life depended on it.

Suddenly Vittorio had both hands on Harm's head about to let loose a blast. "Hm, so you're pretty fast." Harm said as he ducked, missing both blasts before turning his eyes black using his speed and strenght to unleash a punch into Vittorio's gut. "Not too fast though.." Harm then moved his fist to the left while spreading his middle and ring finger. He then summoned his sword, but the way his hands were positioned the handle of the sword was summoned in between Harm's open fingers, so when the blade of the sword appeared, it was already through Vittorio's side. Harm hadn't used methods like these in long time, but he felt he had to in this situation. "Do I still dissapoint?" Harm asked mockingly as his eyes turned red and he channeled his energy through the sword making it glow.

Vittorio cried out in pain as the sword materialised in his side, he pushed himself away from Harm, un-sheathing the sword from his side, stumbling backwards, a bony hand clasped over the oozing wound, the flesh shifting beneath his fingers as it began to heal instantly. The searing pain did little to waver the satisfactory smile that graced his lips… “This could be fun after all.”

His violet orbs turned red about the edges, a vivid rouge equal to the energy clasped in his palms, he manifested the energy into long strips, sharpening their points, they hovered in mid air about him, circling his frame as he conjured them in bulk.

“You have no idea do you Harm? No idea of what you’ve stumbled into here…Oh, but I know all about you…” Vittorio plucked one of the small spears from the air, his fingers slithering over its slim frame, testing the sharpened point, and twirling it diligently between his fingers

“Did you know that you and that damn girl were the first people Shinigami ever told?” His voice oozed with spite, “The first people she ever sought comfort from, understanding from!” The words seething with repressed anger, <she was meant to be mine>.

“As soon as I saw her I knew…the raw potential that shrouded her…” he cast a longing gaze over the cowering form of Duo as she voiceless screamed within her head. “I was the one who convinced the Master to take her on in our ranks, he branded her but it was I who trained her, crafted her, even then she held on to the ridiculous idealistic hope that she was somehow helping people through killing the scum of the planet!” He powered the spear and thrust it into Duo’s shoulder, a fountain of robust blood spurted from the gash, unbarred by the energy as Duo absorbed it into her being. Vittorio watched for Harm’s reaction to his words.

“Now look what she has become…you and your new good and righteous actions, an example to all everywhere…” his anger grew as the words fell from his tongue and he fired three of the spears in quick succession, taking twisted satisfaction from the way they sunk into the flesh of Harm’s sword arm. “The Master has granted her a second chance due to my intervention…you could have one too Harm.” Vittorio bargained. “A chance to truly fulfil that potential, after all, it must really have gotten under your skin to know that your little sister could pull off the bad assed act better then you ever could…perhaps it’s her I should go after next? I know a demon or two who would take pleasure in ravaging her beyond her sanity. I wonder if your sister tastes as good as she looks…” He fired the rest of the numerous spears towards Harm.

Shinigami’s body was overcome with shuddering spasms, causing her to thrash upon the floor as the spear sunk into her tender flesh, puncturing the little concentration she had managed to muster as the energy was absorbed. The fury of Vittorio and Harm caused the very air to oscillate and it was suffocating. She needed to get away…the hunger was too much by itself…the presence of the two demons was making it damn near impossible to resist. She summoned her wings, flapping sluggishly as she drew herself from the floor inch by painful inch, her limbs hanging limp, trying to put some distance in between herself and the blackened alley…but the darkened tips of her usual brilliant white wings was a sign that she was already too far gone…

Harm's face remained emotionless as he saw the spears materialize and circle around Vittorio. He let out a silent sigh, that was a lot spears, this is going to be reeally fun.

"Did you know that you and that damn girl were the first people Shinigami ever told?" His voice oozed with spite, "The first people she ever sought comfort from, understanding from!"

"Are you listening to yourself? She told us because she wasn't happy, she didn't want to work for Satan anymore. Then again I'm pretty sure you don't care what she wants. You only want a resourse. Someone to join you so you don't have to sit there and burn in Hell by yourself. When you spell it out like that it sounds really pathetic doesn't it?" Harm said still taunting Vittorio. He was hoping his interruptions would start to frustrate him, make him lose some of his focus. Harm's eyes remained on the spears, knowing that they would eventually come in his direction.

Harm then heard Vittorio say that he was the one who brought Shinigami into Satan's ranks. So he was Shin's Buzz. He was sure that if anyone should take him out it should be Duo herself, but she wasn't in any position to even stand up, much less take out a high level demon. Harm wanted to kill him now, but he was forcing all his anger, his frustration that he couldn't stop Duo's pain, everything down inside. Vittorio was trying to get a reaction out of Harm, he wasn't going to let him get the satisfaction, if he did get Harm to snap, he'd really wish he hadn't.

Vittorio then shot the spear into Shin's arm. It was taking everything in Harm not to go to her, but that wouldn't help, all he could do for right now is let him talk, get all the information he could before he finally unleashed his attack. Vittorio was getting visibly angrier as he talked, which made Harm smirk slightly, his plan was working. Vittorio then shot 3 of the spears into Harm's arm. Harm jerked with the recoil as his arm bled, then then looked back at Vittorio with a sinister smirk as his eyes flashed white and the wounds were healed. "You're not the only one who can do that trick." Harm began looking over Vittorio for weak points, he'd attacked but was still holding back, but Harm's smugness was getting to him.

"...after all, it must really have gotten under your skin to know that your little sister could pull off the bad assed act better then you ever could...perhaps it's her I should go after next? I know a demon or two who would take pleasure in ravaging her beyond her sanity. I wonder if your sister tastes as good as she looks?"

Harm tried, he really did. But as soon as Vittorio mentioned Greta, any side plan was thrown out the window. He had a few seconds of sanity left. He lifted the T-terminal and called Supersonic. "Super, wake up. You know about Duo's hunger better than any of us, and she needs your help. Get here. Now."

Harm looked at the spears coming towards him, he didn't care anymore he ran straight through them, groaning in pain as the shredded through him he charged at Vittorio shoving his forearm into Vittorio's neck cutting off his air. "If. You. Even. THINK! About touching my sister, I swear the pain you'll go through will make Hell look like a NOTHING!" All reason left him, as he pushed his forearm even harder into the demon's neck starting to break it as Harm's eyes glowed red once more. Harm's blood was dripping on the floor, his body was beginning to bleed to death, but that wasn't a concern. "As a matter of fact, I'm not even going to give you that chance." Harm growled, his voice sounding more animal than human. He then shot his eye beams directly into Vittorio's eyes, until he heard the painful yell of a blinded demon, as he summoned his sword back into his hand and prepared to to put Vittorio through more of his own personal Hell.

Harm never realised…his lapse of control, his outburst of hate…it was the final link in the chain, the final act that caused Duo to loose her control.

Her back arched painfully as her unfurled wings fully turned to black, the feathers ruffling as the energy tainted them. Her chestnut hair that she had left down from her customary braid, the tips changed to a vivid red, a dead ringer of the colour of both Vittorio and Harm’s energy.

She knew she had fallen, that she had failed. Somewhere in the furthest regions of her mind…she was sorry. She pursed her lips together in an attempt to hold back her heart-wrenching wail as she threw back her head; the cry breached the heavens yet she received no sanctuary from above as her frame was engulfed in darkness. She remained levitating above the ground, her fists clenched so that the skin of her knuckles turned a pallid white.

A few stray strands of reddish hair lay strewn across her face as she cast her eyes upon Will harming Vittorio, the light of sanity was fading from behind her onyx eyes and a faint smile played across her lips, a slight upturning of the corners of her mouth…hardly anything at all.

She managed to muster a few last words; she hardly heard them above the blood pounding in her ears. Her thoughts held no pattern...except for one chain. She didn’t want to go, she didn’t want to fade away…she needed to be stopped.

“Will…stop me…please…kill me!”


Through the haze of agony that encased Vittorio’s eyes he felt the change in the air…he struggled against Harm’s vice grip, his head thrown back as the manic cackle was wrenched from his throat. The blood ran thick; oozing black down his pasty skin, marring the elegant features even though the burnt flesh about his hollow eye sockets drenched in a sodden mass began to repair itself.

Vittorio lashed out in his blinded state, wrapping his stretched out fingers about Harm’s left collar bone, digging his fingers beneath the bone, flexing them so the bone fragmented in his grasp…still he didn’t let go, twisting the newly broken bone beneath his fingers her guided it upwards so that it ruptured the skin. In quick succession he grabbed Harm’s hair and forced his head around so that he was staring behind him…

“See what you helped me create…” Vittorio, still blinded but quickly healing whispered into Will’s ear.

Shinigami levitated several inches above the ground, her posture tall, her build slim, and the muscles taut. Her hair was an endless cascade about her, the reddened tips reflecting what little light shone within the alley’s vicinity. Her head was held high and she stared down at Will with a look of utter loathing. The scythe was firm in hand…the beam no longer green but wretched rouge, and about her she had conjured the same multitude of energy spears that Vittorio had. Her onyx eyes flashed with malicious intent and her smile was a mirror of Satan’s seduction…

“Welcome back my little Shinigami…”

Harm winced as his collarbone was broken. This compounded with the emence bleeding he'd already done, made him unable to even notice that Shinigami was turning. He actually did hear her plea, but he was too infuriated to do anything about it. The small part of him that was still sane whispered in the back of his head. 'Some friend I am.' But the part that was in charge and seriously ticked off, was deturmined to fight through the pain, he would kill Vittorio even if he died himself in the process. Vittorio then pulled Harm by the hair and showed him what Shin had become. Harm let out a loud sigh which was harder because of all of his wounds. His fighting was hurting Shin more than he realized. But one thing he agreed with was that he couldn't help her, with Vittorio still there, he couldn't do both at the same time. Harm quickly moved the sword from his, left arm to his right where he could maneuver easier.

Harm's eyes turned black as he used all of his strenght to shove the handle of the into Vittorio's gut and sharply pulled the handle up until he felt the demon's rib cage breaking under the pressure. Harm's vision was starting to get blurry from the pain, but he was fighting through. "Too bad you won't be able to enjoy your 'creation'." Harm said sarcastically with a growl, as he shoved the sword sideways so he could cut Vittorio's midsection with the blade.

Harm knew that his viciousness was only making things worst for Duo, but he couldn't help it. Where the hell was...

"DUOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Supersonic yelled as he saw Shinigami's altered look. Harm wasn't kidding when he said that he needed help, Duo had given in. Supersonic quickly flew up to Shinigami. "Come on Duo, don't do this." He then sees the brutal fight going on between Harm and Vittorio. 'Crap, all that evil is what probably caused her to turn sides. No way I can stop either of those two.' He picked up his T-terminal. "Wonder Girl! Come in! We need you here now!" He then got close to Duo making a point of not touching her, and keeping his intentions as pure as possible. "Duo, I'm being completely serious now. Me. Serious. In the same sentence. That should tell you something. Focus on something else besides those two, I know you can do it." Supersonic said desperately trying to get to whatever good was left in her.

‘Beep!! Beep!!’
“Ghnmmm??” Cassie mumbled into her pillow. Reaching out to her side table she found and flipped open her T-Terminal.

"Wonder Girl! Come in! We need you here now!"

Shooting awake she jumped out from her sheets and poked the sleeping form of Shinigami….to find her roommates bed empty.
Slightly worrying about Duo she constantly tried to contact Supersonic as she quickly threw her costume on. Cass took the lack of response from SS to mean either he was in extreme trouble, he physically couldn’t respond or he was calling in more help through the terminals frequency……none of these options were very good.
Switching the T-Terminal into tracking mode she pinpointed Supersonics position , glancing back once longingly to her empty bed she sighed and then took flight.

Whilst she was flying Cassie noticed a strange feeling, like she was uncomfortable beneath her skin. Was this whole thing to do with the disappearing Shinigami?? Maybe the small piece of her soul that resided inside her was warning her away from something??
Pushing the thought from her mind as the T-Terminal showed the speedsters location was only at the end of the block, she slipped the device into her pocket as she bravely turned the corner to face whatever evil was there. With her friends beside her she knew she’d have nothing to worry about.

“W….will??”

Bleeding, bruised and angry. Harm had his sword in his hand fighting an unknown adversary. Suddenly noticing after the initial shock the demons own wounds….Charred burnt eyes, beaten ribs and a gash across his midsection.
Harm was vicious, gloating , merciless.
‘So this is who her really is….His true nature??’
Looking beyond her violent boyfriend she saw more things that nightmares are made of. Dupo lost to the darkness again, the explanation to the twist in her own soul. And Supersonic being…..serious??

"Duo, I'm being completely serious now. Me. Serious. In the same sentence. That should tell you something. Focus on something else besides those two, I know you can do it."

Duo stared at Supersonic in abstract wonder, his words actually sounded sincere, she allowed her eyes to flutter shut, her long lashes resting against the her pale cheeks, drawn of life. She breathed in deeply, her diaphragm stretching as her lungs inflated and her head lolled back as she relished the night...The air felt different...alive, it was adorned with darkness and she took it in.

She opened her eyes; their black depths endless and she took in his concern expression beneath his hood. Ironic to think that if he had been but a few seconds earlier…if Harm had maintained a degree of control…his words may have saved her…but irony is the hand of God, and she had expected no favours from him…

The world was clear once more, black and white with transparent clarity, differentiating the world into its categories…she no longer experienced the weighing pressure of maintaining good intentions through dark means…she was no longer bound by the limited conscience she had possessed…she was free…almost.

She concentrated on the spears she had conjured about herself and they began to circle about her, picking up spread causing a spiralled wind, whipping her hair back and forth, the red energy casting moving shadows over her scowling face, melding her beautiful features into a twisted formation. “Don’t ever call me DUO!!!”


Vittorio felt his ribs give and his side cut in a quick sequence, he slumped in Harm’s grip, unable to support his own weight, his eyes, still a bloody mass were slowly reshaping, reforming to his vibrant violet eyes and sight was slowly returning to him. The first thing his gaze fell upon was the sadistic gaze of Harm, enraged and ready to kill. Vittorio felt, for the first time in years the cold quell of fear in the pit of his being, he wasn’t going to come out of this unscathed…if he survived at all…

“Shinigami!” He commanded, his voice not pleading, merely informative that he needed assistance.


Shinigami felt Cassie before she had arrived, but it was a truly invigorating experience seeing the horrified expression on Cassie’s face as she took in her friends, as she saw Shinigami evil and Harm not far behind. That revolted look would be forever imprinted on her memory, to cherish always.

She avert her gaze to see the bloody form of Vittorio, and she took in Harm’s heaving bulk, her lips drew back to reveal her bared teeth, “My name is Shinigami!” She cried, directing her spears at Supersonic, not even stopping to see if they connected she dived down low, scythe bared…

She ripped the red thermal blade into Will’s left shoulder, fragmenting his already broken collarbone, the scythe remained imbedded and pulling on the handle she yanked him backwards away from Vittorio. Dislodging the scythe in the process, with his backward momentum she threw him against the wall.

“Thank you for helping me to re-create myself Will.” She said mockingly to his sprawled form. “Vittorio take a break…heal up!” Vittorio conceded, backing up in the alley behind Shinigami so he had a chance to recover.

Then Shinigami looked upwards, her gaze connecting with Cassie’s, with her friend…

“Hello Cass…” she said warmly, readjusting her grip on her scythe as she rose into the air once more. She hovered but a few inches from Wonder girl, there faces but inches a part. Shinigami’s traced her gaze over Cassie’s face and felt the flicker of Wonder girl’s soul still inside of her, <yes…soon I’ll be free>. “I’m going to kill you!” She said pleasantly, and swung her scythe at Cassie’s head…

“Don’t ever call me DUO!!!”

Duo was different, Her face. Her voice. Her whole demeanour.

“Oh no, please tell me this is one whole joke those three are playing…and the demon is…SB? Imp?? Hell, I’ll even settle with Robin!” She inaudibly mumbled to herself even though she knew the truth. Harms rage had sent Duo over the edge, showing his violent side to her, the side Cassie had forgotten ever existed. Supersonic had come to help out a friend and that girl was throwing spears of light at him….’Since when can she do that?!!’

“Shinigami!”

Watching her friend go to the aid of the demon made Cassie feel physically sick, no less that her guy was being racked up like a slab of meat but that Shinigami was truly taking twisted pleasure in it.
The whole thing only took mere seconds but it felt like longer to Wonder Girl yet before she knew it she could feel the glow of the scythe on her face, the gleam in the eye of the fallen angel.

“Hello Cass……I’m going to kill you!”

“What the….?!!”
There wasn’t time to think, as Shinigami swung the scythe Cassie reached out and grabbed the front of the angel’s shirt. Dropping down onto her back she used her legs to flip Shin over her, using her momentum, onto the concrete a few meters away. As Cass jumped up ready for the next assault she took a split second to look Will over she saw his shoulder wound had gotten far worse.
‘There’s no time to go check on him, Supersonic can watch for him, get him out if needs be. If not Will can shadow port or simply heal with time.’ Cassie worried. 'That demon is behind this, I'll need answers eventually and he looks like he has them. But for now he's recovering.......cowering.....from Harms attack.'

After Harm was thrown into the wall it finally caught up with him, all the wounds he recieved were too much for even his determination to lift him up. He was grounded, he couldn't even pick up his sword. He looked over to see Vittorio in shape just as bad as he was. "Heh." Harm chuckled, but the internal injuries made the small laugh as bad as an actual blow. His mind began to clear slightly, he could heal but he'd need total concentration. He didn't want to lose control of that power, if any. Harm's eyes turned white, but he couldn't turn them back. His wounds were healed but the air around him was rippling from the power. "Come...on...Will..." He muttered to himself as his eyes turned back to normal.

"Hello Cass...I'm going to kill you!"

"Cass?" Harm got out as he saw Shinigami going after Wonder Girl. He starts running towards her, picking up his sword on the way. Although in the back of his mind he was wondering how long Cassie had been there. Had she seen him at his worst? That would have to wait, suddeny he saw Supersonic falling to the ground, numerous holes in him from the spears.

Supersonic looks up slightly after he hits the floor. Normally he would have made a sheild or something to deflect the blasts, but he was suprised that she'd actually try to kill him. She really had given in to the hunger. He'd have been upset if he could have actually done something about it.

Harm groaned as he turned away from Wonder Girl and Shinigami's altercation to help out Supersonic. His eyes flashed white as he healed Supersonic's wounds. He then glared at the speedster. "Look, I'm in kind of a weird mood right now, so don't expect me to keep doing that!" He growled as he went back to Cassie. Supersonic grabbed Harm's arm glancing at Vittorio. "Don't hurt her." Harm snarled back at Supersonic. "I'll make no promises." He said darkly, still pretty far gone.

Cassie avaded Shinigami's attack, much to Shin's delight...she didn't want her prey to fall to fast, she wanted a fight!

"Come on Cass...death isn't that bad, it's not the handicap it use to be in the olden days!" She motioned to herself as she conjured more spears, this time shorter and more slender, little more then spliters. "Just look at what I have become!"

<become...> a whisper, a voice caged...Shinigami's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before it shone with added brilliance. <Become...I have become the true Goddess of Death...>


Vittorio felt the flesh of his stomach realine, healing fast, he barely noticed. His eyes were on Shinigami, trailing over her as she marvelled at herself whilst taunting the girl who had caused her to change. "My little Shinigami..." he whispered proudly, his voice dripping with awe and he watched in fascination as his new creation dealt out the pain and havoc he had always envisioned.


"I'm going to kill you Cassandra," she fired one splinter and embedded it in wonder girls left hand, "I'm going to kill you slowly," another splinter, a cm from the first, "and painfully" another to add a hatrick of wounds. "and there's going to be no boyfriend or birdboy to save you this time!"

Cassie bit her lip through the pain, simply knowing it was going to get worse, the way Shinigami was willing to torment her, torture her was more than enough to strengthen her resolve. The two former team mates were grappling against each other, fighting for the upperhand, face to face.
“You think I’m going to allow myself to be killed by someone who quotes bad 90’s Sci-Fi nostalgia??!!” Eventually Cassie would have had enough, it was bound to happen.
People are like the sides of a coin. Its true that if you have an amazingly nice side you have to have a bad side not to be messed with…....and Cassandra was about to meet hers.

“You know, Duo….” Cassie said through gritted teeth, emphasising the name. “You know what hurts the most? No, its not the fact you’re pathetically weak willed and turned to the dark side so easily. Its not the fact you just pledged to kill me for no reason that I can see, and is sure as hell isn’t the fact I have a new handy weapon….” Cassie demonstrated the point by backhanding Shin with the spikes.
“You think I NEED one of the Titans to save me?? Regardless of who it is, I do not need any help in taking you down!! What really hurts…this is it now, so listen up….”
Cassie followed the backhand with a sidekick to the stomach and a repeated knee thrust in the same region. Grabbing a flailing arm, Cassie grasped and twisted it sharply behind Shinigami’s back.
“What sucks is that I now have to quote ‘The Spice Girls’ because your about to witness some serious Girl Power!!!” She finished by ramming her elbow into a wing joint.

Shinigami felt the pressure applied to her wing joint and grunted, the pain lanced in short spasms along her wing and several black feathers fluttered to the floor below.

Grabbing wildly behind her she laced her fingers in Cassie’s blond hair, yanking backwards to rip Cassie off of her. She kept her fingers coiled in Cassie’s hair and span around so they were face to face, then using her wings she propelled the two of them, Wonder girl first into one of the alley’s walls.

Shinigami delivered a vicious roundhouse elbow strike to Cassie's cheek, the spot instantly glowing red. "Awwwwwwww, what's the matter Cassie, you actually sound upset!” Shin hissed. “Could it be that in your book, I'm another soul that you have failed to save?!" An upper cup under Cassie's chin caused her head to ricochet off the wall. Shinigami looked into Cassie’s disorientated eyes, the windows to the soul clouded, and whispered, “how many Cass…how many have you failed? How many lives have been destroyed due to your incompetence, yours and the rest of the Titans…and you claim that I’m evil!?” Shingami taunted her, her voice spite educed. “Although…perhaps for the first time we are seeing the true you…a much finer version…feels good doesn’t it? I didn’t give in Cass…that was something you could never understand…what you see is who I am…My name isn’t Duo…it’s Shinigami!”

She grabbed Cassie’s chin in a vice grip, “and I have a very good reason for killing you…to kill that little impression of yourself that you left in me…to rid myself of your presence for ever.”

After escaping the hold Cassie had on her, Shin then delivered several blows that disorientated her for a moment.
A quick self-assessment later showed there was no serious damage; sure she had a killer headache and needed a good hairstylist but who doesn’t at three in the morning?

‘Gods Damnit Wondy!! The heck is wrong with you?!! You have to stay calm, you lose your temper now and your going to set the whole woman’s movement back thirty years!!’ Her face was flushed, holding back her words, yet her fists were itching to speak their own language and Wonder Girl wasn’t one to deny an urge like that.

Although the hold Shin had on her was making it difficult to even see, let alone breath, the first shot hit its mark although with less force than Cass would have liked but it did its job, Shinigami was dislodged from her face and that was the main thing..
For a second Cassie wondered if she should try to talk her friend down from cloud insanity….but that simply wouldn’t work right now. Duo was looking for a fight purely from her and Cassie was ready to answer. To fight just the same way.

“Unlike Robin or any of the Bat types I don’t think of those I’ve lost as ‘failed to save’ but simply as casualties in life. For every one ‘failure’, we’ve saved a hundred plus!!” She feinted with her left, swung and connected harshly with her right.
“If you think your psychology can work on me your wrong!! Devastation did that with me already and trust me, angel, your simply an amateur. You got nothing on her twisted mind!!”
Wonder Girl then twisted into a full forced slap with her left, nails curled out, leaving the mock cat claws in deep red on Shinigami’s face. Yet again using a wayward limb as leverage, Cass flipped Shin into the same wall she’d just had the pleasure of greeting in that special, painful way.
“You think this is the true me?!! Won’t it just pain you to know that the ever dutiful Cassandra can do badass just the same as you can without losing her inhibitions?? Well maybe it is the true me but that’s the point of self-control. I could back down at any point, could you??”
She gave a small smirk as she stepped on the blacked fallen feathers doused in both of their blood. “You have a spec of good inside your soul….You know, I never realised you were that influenced by me. This makes everything i've done in my life worth while.”
True, the proximity of their intertwined souls is what could have been what was making Cassie so out of control.
“As long as you still have a little of me in you, you can still be saved.”

Blood flowed down her pale cheek, oozing out of the gashes Cassie had gouged into her cheek. They burned and her eye twitched as she winced. She was thrust against the waste-smeared wall, her shoulder blades connecting painfully and her wings ached in protest.

"Casualties..." she whispered, "Casualties!" She lashed out with a palm heel to Wonder girl's chin, pushing upwards so the vertebrae of her neck bent backwards. "You call them casualties? Is your conscience so clear that you can discard them so easily!?" She span tightly into Cassie, driving an elbow into her breastbone followed by a knee to her lower left ribs, feeling something give beneath her blows. "Tell that to Anita for her father, and what of Donna!?" The strikes came with fleeting fluidity, fast, swift...rapid punches to the mid section as her anger grew...

"And what of those you've saved, the countless times the world has been spared. Life is a casualty unto itself, a manifestation of innocence lost fuelled by people's hate, greed, rhythmic lusts to quell humanity's libidos! You are ignorant of all of this...you and your idealistic concepts! You save the whole so more can be hurt within and you call them casualties!" She launched herself into the air, flapping her wings twice to gain a few feet's altitude and then she delivered a brutal roundhouse kick to Cassie's head.

"And what of me Cassie!? Was I a casualty!?" Shin's scythe still remained firm in hand, its red glare appeared to flare when it was swept across the night, a blur as the strikes flew...and yet she wasn't using it. She could have taken Cassie out in a heartbeat, as she could have forced much more power behind her blows, she could have broken her Breast bone and forced the fragmented shards to pierce her heart and lungs...so why wasn't she?

<What of her...?> the caged whisper, she dropped to the floor and began to series of punches to Cassie, not focussing on where they hit, <Is she not an innocent...?> Her fists ripped into Cassie, depicting to her the pain of a world, her hands splattered with blood, the debris of broken lives, she continued to punch, hoping the audible thuds would drown out the words…and still the faint ripple of a voice continued <will she not become a casualty?> All of it...the entire fight, the blows, the pain, felt like a life-times torment, but then time is a intangible substance and in reality the entire thing was but seconds long, the words were hurried although they felt slurred.


Vittorio stood tall, his damaged exterior had fully healed...and he was looking for a little payback! His violet eyes traced over Supersonic, newly healed by Harm who stood near by. They would both perish this night, he would see to it personally, delight in tearing them limb from limb for the part they had played in weakening his “little Shinigami!”


Shinigami pushed herself away from Cassie, her own thoughts betraying her…there was a fluttering conscience buried deep within…and it wouldn’t fade completely. “You failed…they all failed…people lost…casualties!” And her words faltered…the clarity was clouding slightly, and for the barest second…recognition spayed across her vision as she looked at the damaged frame of Cassie. “Why…why couldn’t you save me…?” She whispered, barely audible, she looked at Will and Marx also…<why couldn’t they…>


Vittorio sensed it…sensed her confusion mounting and his thoughts of revenge dwindled, he instantly conjured a series of blasts and threw them in Marx’s and Will’s general direction, intending on distracting them so they wouldn’t interfere as he launched himself at Shinigami, wrapping his toned arms about her waist, his palms cool against her flushed skin, he rested his chin on her shoulder, his lips by her ear.

“She can’t save you because she doesn’t wish to!” He whispered, his voice soft, suggesting,…“She has never wanted to help you, she is disgusted with the sight of you…you are something she cannot comprehend.” His grip across her stomach tightened and he pulled her against him, his proximity fuelling her rage as his words sunk in, tainted with his essence. “She wants you to feel the pain…they all do. They make you hurt yourself by fighting what you are.” He curled his chin about her shoulder, “I am the only person who has ever cared for you…they don’t want you…they want to hurt you…” He gingerly brushed a strand of hair from her face, marvelling at his creation. “I can save you…make the pain go away…just choose me…”

She didn’t have a choice…his hands spayed across her abdomen forced a little more dark into her, she had no choice…Shrodenger’s Cat…the infinite choice theory…held no meaning when the choice is made for you…

All of a sudden…he scythe seemed that much more appealing, she stood, her newly refreshed malicious gaze upon her “friends”, Vittorio still wrapped about her, her reddish hair splayed about them both, and the edges of her irises turning violet and she shone with a new aura…Vittorio’s aura.

“It’s time to play…”

Harm had been caught by suprise by Cassie's viciousness. He knew by no means was she helpless, but he'd never seen that part of her. But one difference between him and her was that she had complete control of herself. He could tell that she wasn't just saying that, she meant it. He was caught by suprise again by Vittorio's sudden attack. Supersonic had formed his hands into a shield which deflected the blasts, while Harm dodged, then ran for the source.

Supersonic could tell Harm still wasn't all there and felt a little torn. He couldn't let Harm seriously hurt anyone...well...hurt anyone again, but there was too much going on for them to be fighting amonst themselves.

"She wants you to feel the pain...they all do. They make you hurt yourself by fighting what you are." He curled his chin about her shoulder, "I am the only person who has ever cared for you...they don't want you...they want to hurt you?" He gingerly brushed a strand of hair from her face, marvelling at his creation. "I can save you...make the pain go away...just choose me..."

Harm glares at Vittorio. He was getting annoyed mostly because some of Vittorio's psycho babble was making sense to him. It is much more painful to fight the evil than it is to embrace it. He'd let a lot of it out today, it felt good. He'd finally been able to let loose, to be lethal with his abilities, he enjoyed inflicting the pain on Vittorio, listening to Vittorio's yells as he felt the eye beams go through Vittorio's eyes. But one thing Vittorio was wrong about was that they didn't care or understand. Even if he was a little out there for the moment he cared for Duo, and to be honest he didn't want to hurt her, but he wasn't going to sit there and let her hurt Cassie.

Supersonic then spoke up. "Look you Darth Vader/Harm wannabe! You don't know us, so you can't just stand there and lie about us not caring for Duo. We care enough about her to call her by her real name, and not treat her like she's our property. I..can't speak about everyone else..." He said still wary of Harm. "...but I know I don't want to hurt you. I know what you're going through remember? I've been inside of yo-" Super pauses. "I've been in your bod-" He pauses again. "We've switched bodies ok. I've had the same hunger, I've had to fight it. You're stronger than me Duo, I know you can do this. Don't let him get to you. Despite what he says we're your friends, he's just trying to..."

"Get his eyes burned out again if he doesn't let go of her!" Harm finishes. Supersonic's head darts around to Harm. "You did that? I thought he had some freaky eye growing power or something." Harm doesn't answer, he merely glares at Vittorio, they weren't going to be able to get to Duo as long as he was there. He'd have to do something about that, and make sure he'd never be able to harm Duo, Cassie, or Greta. His muscles began to tense as he prepared for the attack.

"Get his eyes burned out again if he doesn't let go of her!"

Vittorio smiled wickedly, his freshly grown eyes flickering with amusement at Harm's outburst. "You would sincerely enjoy that wouldn't you? It's encoded into you, you're just itching to beat me into another bloody pulp..." Vittorio cackled then, his arms shaking about Shinigami's stomach as he laughed. "You would kill me and force her back to the way she was...have her pained for an eternity!? You don't seriously believe that she could ever truly be happy around all of you!?"

Supersonic's words rang in her ears..."You're stronger than me Duo, I know you can do this. Don't let him get to you. Despite what he says we're your friends, he's just trying to..."

"Do you seriously believe that after having spent a few mere days locked within this casket that you can truly understand me!" She bellowed, energy rushing through her veins. "You think battling this...this hunger for a few days warrants you the right to lecture me! I have suffered with it for years because I only took those who were evil in spirit...suffered when to give in would have brought me peace!?" And the more she fell the freer she was becoming...the hunger no longer a strain but a pleasure...dulling the pain...

"They can never know my little Shinigami...not even Harm." Vittorio span her round to look him in the eye, his expression solemn, sincere..."You admired Harm, wanted to follow his example. But you have seen his true, underlying nature this night...he is no different..."

Images of Vittorio's battered form ran through her mind, the feel of Harm's rage still thick in the air...<he's right...I never stood a chance if Harm can fail too...>

She span back to her ex-friends, twirling her scythe expertly between her nimble finger over her head, forming a bitter, red halo...an ironic symbol...

"They cause you to hurt...it is they who cage you...cage you with a guilt that isn't yours...every single one of those you've taken deserved it...this cage was not meant for you..." Vittorio's hands glowed red and balls of electric red energy levitated centre meters above his palms. "I'm here to set you free...to take you home..." He released his energy blasts towards Harm and Supersonic and was overjoyed to see that the blasts were accompanied by long red javelins, courtesy of his little Shinigami...

"You would kill me and force her back to the way she was...have her pained for an eternity!? You don't seriously believe that she could ever truly be happy around all of you!?"

Harm glared at Vittorio again. He was suprised that he wasn't attacking, then it hit him, Supersonic was in the way, he couldn't really attack without hitting Super. He slowly began to maneuver himself so he could get a clean shot. "If she really was pained, then how come you had to force her back to your side. We gave her a choice and she chose us willingly. If I have to kill you before she can make the choice again then so be it." Harm growled, his eyes turning red as his hands began to glow.

"You think battling this...this hunger for a few days warrants you the right to lecture me! I have suffered with it for years because I only took those who were evil in spirit...suffered when to give in would have brought me peace!?"

"No Duo, I'm not lecturing you. I know I only had the hunger for a limited amount of time. But trust me, I...know more about you than you think." Supersonic was still haunted by the occasional flashes of Duo's death that he'd seen when he was in her body. "I'm not going to fight you Duo."

He used his superspeed to dodge the blasts sent at him by Shin and Vittorio. Super then went directly to Shinigami and looked her in the eyes, making sure she could see his eyes weren't normal either. "I know enough that if you've been getting some of Vittorio's essence, you have to be starving. I know Harm probably looks like a better choice, but you're not faster than me. You're not getting to anyone without going through me first. I'm not going to fight back, if you're going to take my soul, do it. I'm here." While Supersonic was sure she wouldn't take him down in cold blood, if for some reason she was gone that far, hopefully the goodness in his soul would help Shin to come back. It was Cassie's soul that turned her good to begin with. Marx sighed. Inside he was shaking wondering what Duo would do. "I'm waiting."

"I'm getting sick and tired of you." Energy crackled around Harm's hands, they were throbbing with pain from the energy that was begging for it's release. Harm didn't fight it, he unleashed an energy blast, at a size that hadn't been seen since the last time he lost control, only this time he lost control of it on purpose, he didn't want anything left of Vittorio. The blast was so powerful that it actually deflected both attacks that were aimed at him, yet he was suprisingly able to avoid Shinigami and everyone else with the blast. It never occured to him that Cassie was watching him try to kill another person, even if the person was an evil demon.

His flesh began to bubble, his flesh smouldering under the energy blast that Harm fired at him. The energy was raw...fuelled by hate and anger, his flesh began to melt under the blast, blistering into a raw mass. His voice was shrill as he cried out in pain; surging backwards...his skin sizzled and cracked.

"ARRHGEHGHHHHHHHH!!!" Vittorio screeched. His flesh began to heal instantly, an arduously slow process as the matter of his being begun to reconstruct his flesh, skin grafts instantly appearing over the red raw flesh.

Shinigami diverted her gaze from Supersonic to Vittorio, her eyes growing wide as she witnessed the devastation of Harm’s blast. She gritted her teeth in rage and her eyes flared fully violet, their normal onyx colour overcome in a violet glaze. She diverted this gaze onto Harm, still several feet behind Marx. “You’re going to regret that!” She hissed threateningly, her scythe she still held in her left hand and she held her other hand out in front of her face, tracing a faint pattern in the sky, marvelling as she concentrated… leisurely red energy coiled from her finger tips, growing to about 10 inches long and taking formation, same as the spears she had formed earlier but staying attached to her fingers. Her fingernails had become curved knives, slender and deadly.

“You're not faster than me. You're not getting to anyone without going through me first. I'm not going to fight back, if you're going to take my soul, do it. I'm here."

Supersonic’s words still rang in the air…and they were true, she wanted Harm, he was as rich in dark essence as Vittorio, she wanted to drink him dry and rip out his heart. She wanted death, despair and devastation…she was lost in the ecstasy of the dark, gifted to her by Vittorio. Harm was threatening that…he was going to pay. But Supersonic was right...if he wanted to prevent her from getting to harm then he most probably could…and he was offering his soul on a platter, <who am I do decline such an offer?> she smirked.

She lashed out with her spiked fingers, curling them into Supersonic’s chest, the flesh slicing and his blood sliding between her fingers, she dragged him towards her. “You wish for you demise…I shall indulge you!”

Vittorio’s flesh was still raw but healing swiftly and he couldn’t help but smile at Shinigami’s reaction to him getting harmed, <she’s back…>

He watched as Shinigami formed the spears from her fingers, awed as she quickly adapted to her new powers, which he had bestowed upon her. Following her example he formed his own fingernails into curled knives, his arms spread wide as they grew. His gaze fell on the beaten frame of Cassie, watching the events from afar, he smiled lusciously. <Let’s see how Harm reacts when I slice and dice his girlfriend…>


Shinigami tightened her grip on Supersonic and whispered, “Your soul is mine.” And she began to drink his soul…

"Your soul is mine."

Marx jerked as he felt his essence, his life, being sucked away. He'd be lying if he said he was expecting her to suck his soul like that, especially stabbing him before doing it. Supersonic used the last of his slowly draining energy and looked into Duo's eyes. "I'm...sorry....I couldn't save you...Duo..." He choked out. As much as he meant that for this situation, he meant it moreso because of her last words when she was killed. She pleaded for someone to save her, she was only 17, it was completely unfair for her to be in this situation at all. Marx then coughed, it was almost over, he looked down at the claws that were still through his chest. "You know....if those things were...an inch shorter....it'd be like the....band...heh..." He let out a final smile as his body fell limp, and slipped off Duo's claws onto the floor, motionless.

Harm tried to gain some semblance of control, he was barely able to concentrate the blast enough so that Cassie, Shin, and Supersonic weren't hurt. But he wasn't given time to calm himself as he saw the soulless form of Supersonic fall on the ground. Harm then looked up to see Shinigami's bloody claws. He had to admit, Supersonic could be annoying to the point that you'd want to kill him, but he didn't deserve that. His last words to Harm were not to hurt Duo, and this was his payment. Harm slowly walked up to Shinigami. "Fine, if that's how it's going to be Shin, thats how it going to be. You must still be hungry, only don't make the mistake of thinking that I'm going to sit here and let you feed on me, or that I won't take you down because you're my friend. Since Super was yours, I guess we agree to throw any friendships we had out the window, WHICH IS FINE BY ME!" Harm said, his eyes turning black as he summoned so much power that he physically grew a little.

At the moment, no one else existed in that alley. It was only Harm and Shinigami, one way or another he knew at that point only one of them was going to be leaving that alley.

"You call them casualties? Is your conscience so clear that you can discard them so easily!? Tell that to Anita for her father, and what of Donna!?"

“EASY!?? Just because something hurts it doesn’t mean you didn’t try everything possible!! I organised the invasion of an entire country for the murder of Donald Fite, think I got over it easy?!!! And right now your not even worthy to say my fallen sisters name!! Donna’s death was wrong and if you don’t think I blamed myself for that every day since your WRONG!!!!” Cassie yelled while matching the blows Shinigami was throwing at her.

"And what of those you've saved, the countless times the world has been spared. Life is a casualty unto itself”

”Its better to give people a choice in their lives than to take them away. Life is full of tragedy, despair and loss but it also is full of happiness, love and hope.” Cassie did a circle sweep with her legs to knock Shin back “A certain lady said ‘If you want to see the rainbow, sometimes you have to put up with the rain.’ It’s a euphemism for life!! Deal With It!!” Cass defended. “And, don’t they say that there is no such thing as an innocent?!!” Cassie swiftly countered the roundhouse by grabbing the leg and deflecting in one move. “Which pretty much makes everyone a casualty of something in life if you think about it. Including you.”

Wonder Girl had noticed the slight draw back of Shins power. As if she was holding back subconsciously. This didn’t stop Shinigami from laying into Cass with extreme prejudice though.
It was as if the world was put on slow-motion, Shinigami’s fists seemed to fly at her in every direction, to begin with it was no effort to block the haphazard shots but eventually the blows found their marks, leaving more than a sight impression.
It even took a few moments to realise she was no longer being hit. Twisting onto her stomach she coughed a little then spat out the blood that had been drawn out by Duo’s vicious blows.

“Why…why couldn’t you save me…?”

For some reason Cassie didn’t have the motor skills to defend her name, the friendship she was attempting to save, in a twisted way, as Vittorio force fed Shin lies.

“She can’t save you because she doesn’t wish to!” He whispered, his voice soft, suggesting,…“She has never wanted to help you, she is disgusted with the sight of you…you are something she cannot comprehend.”

“No! I may not fully understand but I want to . I want to be there for you…to understand what you mean, what you’ve been through.” Cassie mumbled almost inaudiably “You have a choice.”

"Get his eyes burned out again if he doesn't let go of her!"

“Harm….Calm down” Cassie ached all over and her call was undoubtedly lost in all the tension. He was scaring her a little, truth be told. His gentle side seemed so alien to his present alter ego. “……..Will.”
She pushed herself up to a sitting position painfully, listening and biding her time as the others trash talked.

You admired Harm, wanted to follow his example. But you have seen his true, underlying nature this night...he is no different..."

Wondy groaned holding her ribs where Duo had at least fractured a few, it was also a deeper moan though, what Vittorio had said was true. Harm had been overtly violent. Cassie hated agreeing with the evil villains.

"If she really was pained, then how come you had to force her back to your side. We gave her a choice and she chose us willingly. “

“That’s my boy.” Cassie smiled “Stay calm and she’ll choose right.”

“If I have to kill you before she can make the choice again then so be it."

The smile dropped from Cassies face. ‘WHAT!!’ She mentally yelled ‘WILLIAM HAYES!! NOT. EVEN!!’ Her boyfriend had just seriously offered to kill someone, and it looked like he meant it.

"No Duo, I'm not lecturing you. I know I only had the hunger for a limited amount of time. But trust me, I...know more about you than you think…..I'm not going to fight you Duo."

"I'm getting sick and tired of you."

Cassie shook her head while she failed to struggle to her feet as Supersonic offered his soul and Will shot blasts at the bad guy.
“Stupid. Stupid stupid boys!!”

"ARRHGEHGHHHHHHHH!!!" Vittorio screeched.

A scream like that tortured the purely good soul inside Cassie, abet a small part revelled in it. Duo had no qualm in making her feelings known, declaring the end of Harm but found Supersonic in her way.

“You wish for your demise…I shall indulge you!”

Cassie gasped as Shin begain to take the speedsters life…only thern realising the oncoming Vittorio with his fingernails in curled knives. She dragged her lethargic frame from the ground, ready to defend herself.
From the corner of her eye she saw Supersonics body slip from Shinigami’s Claws…..He was gone.

“No………NO!!” Cassie yelled loudly, surprising herself with the sound in the dense allyway. She heard Will discard their friendship so easily, what was the point of fighting if at the end it was a hollow victory??
“Damn you!! You ruined everything!! Who the hell are you and what the Oh-So-Holy-Hera is going on here!!” Cassie demanded. “Oh forget it.”
She threw the first punch.

Shinigami drunk deeply, relishing the dark essence as it fell into her...but soon the dark essence faded and gave way to purity, the same as she had felt within Cassie when she had drunk her soul.

And once again the white essence stung but she could not stop once the process had begun...

"I'm...sorry.... I couldn't save you...Duo..." . Marx never knew how close he had been to saving her, that his white essence was having the effect he had prayed for, he would also never know that it was also the thing that condemned him and her both. His sincere, heart felt words broke through a barrier and for a second she was Duo again, and she was staring into the fading eyes of her friend...but whenever she drank someone's soul she acquire a section of it for herself...it became part of her, their memories. Amidst the memories of Marx she recognised...her own.

Her memories...her death...a vicious beating that had engraved itself on her soul and haunted her every moment... <Those...those are my memories!!!> He mind screeched and suddenly she was filled with rage, <my memories, my pain, my drive!!!> Her mind chanted and she was no longer Duo...she was pain, hate, rage all of it from a life times suffering and Marx was the one she was displacing it onto. She no longer saw his face but the faces of those responsible and she drank with a vengeance...she felt violated...<my memories, my pain, my drive!> it was her own personal nightmare...the others knew what had happened, but those images...they were hers...

It was a twisted thought, but it was something only she could truly own...she had no control over anything in her life, always being dictated who and how to be...the one thing that was constant was those memories and she had control over how much she let them torment her...and Marx had violated them!

His form sank to the floor, a lifeless shell, and she had fallen even further…Marx had unknowingly furthered the process…his noble sacrifice diminished in Cassie’s shrill screams.


"Fine, if that's how it's going to be Shin, that’s how it going to be. You must still be hungry, only don't make the mistake of thinking that I'm going to sit here and let you feed on me, or that I won't take you down because you're my friend. Since Super was yours, I guess we agree to throw any friendships we had out the window, WHICH IS FINE BY ME!"

<Yes…Shin…not Duo, Shinigami> She smiled as Harm gave up on her; it was a sign that he was weaker, and the smile grew when he called her Shin and not Duo. Duo Merquise was dead; she dies with Supersonic in a blackened alley.

“Friendship is an illusion…I see that now!” She declared as the blood, Marx’s blood dripped from her fingers, the curved knives shimmering with new vitality. “Come on Will…let’s see you for what you truly are!” Her wings flapped and she dived forward, her knifed hand lurching towards harm’s face.



“Damn you!! You ruined everything!! Who the hell are you and what the Oh-So-Holy-Hera is going on here!!” Cassie demanded. “Oh forget it.”

Vittorio grabbed the fist that Cassie had aimed for him and yanked her towards him, and nutted her hard, “Who the hell am I? I’m insulted! I’m Vittorio…Shinigami’s saviour, as for you…you’re the little interfering girl who I’m going to kill!!!”

Harm's lip curled up into a sneer as he sidestepped out of the way, the points of Duo's claws skimming his cheek just enough to draw blood. Harm let out an animal growl, as the fury overtook him. "No, friendship isn't an illusion...but if you blindly follow it...." Harm then viciously backhand slapped Shinigami using all of his boosted strength. "...people take advantage." Harm said giving a slight glance at the courpse that used to hold Supersonic. He barely felt the blood trickling down his cheek, his sneer began to form into a smirk, as he saw Shin recoil from the blow. At this point even Harm wasn't too sure what was going on. What was making him so furious. Was it Supersonic's death? Was it that someone he considered one of his best friends was his killer? Maybe it was the frustration of the part his fury played in Duo's turn. Or he could still be fuming about Vittorio's comments about Shin, Cass and Greta. Then of course there was the look of disappointment in Cassie's face that didn't escape him. In truth it was all of these things at the same time. Will's mind was flooded with so many thoughts and frustrations that he welcomed the chance to let it out. He'd never been able to deal with his frustrations and inner thoughts very well, the last time he let it out was when he was interrogating Bizarro and Solomon Grundy.

His sword then materialized into his hand as he summoned it. He'd been distracted from finishing what he started with Vittorio, but there was no one to stop his blind fury now. The slight burning that came from Harm's cheek gave him an idea, as his eyes began to glow a bright red. Once more he focused his energy into the sword's blade letting it glow, leaving a red energy trail as it moved. Harm then slowly cocked his head to the side as he looked at Shinigami. "You want to know the real me?" Harm brought his head back upright, his hair now covering half of his face the glowing eyes still visible through his hair. "You got a small taste when you killed my girlfriend." Harm's eyes narrowed as his muscles tensed. "Here's the rest. Try not to choke." Harm suddenly dashed towards Duo, sword raised, ready to attack.

Pain exploded across Shinigami's cheek as Harm backhanded her and she tasted the rich, copper taste of blood in her mouth, marring her perfect white teeth.

She spat a concoction of her blood dilutes in saliva upon the floor, but it did little to rid herself of the taste.

"You want to know the real me?" <Yes...come on Harm...show me a fight...show me your dark!>

"Here's the rest. Try not to choke."

Shinigami's scythe was there instantly, parrying Harm's attack, her arm oscillated from the force of the attack, the muscles taut as they absorbed the strike.

"If this is the best you can be then you are a severe disappointment!" She whispered harshly, striking a forward thrust kick to harm's chest, driving him backwards to place a little distance between them. "And don't worry about your girlfriend..." she said smugly, casting a quick glance in Cassie's direction. "I'm sure Vittorio will make sure she...taken care of!" She said emphasising the last few words, her voice sinisterly twisted.

She struck out with her scythe, curving it in the air in a downwards arch towards Harm's head whilst her other had, unclenched, the knifed fingers disclosed surged in a upper cup...

"If this is the best you can be then you are a severe disappointment!"

Harm blocked the scythe with his sword, but wasn't able to completely dodge Shinigami's claws as they tore through his ribs. Harm sneered as he felt the pain in his side, but ignored it, Duo had gotten faster from the last time they fought. Feeding had made her stronger. Harm then jumped up rebounding off the walls of the alley, he landed behind Duo, his back facing hers as he hammered her in the back with the handle of the sword. At times like these, he really wished he could use both Proew and Gneyre's powers at the same time. He had to choose between the energy blasts or his extra power and speed, but right now he wanted Duo to suffer. He wanted to have some fun.

"That's far from my best." Harm growled, his voice much lower than normal. Turning to Duo, he began swinging his sword at Duo, each swing purposly missing. But the aim of the swings wasn't for the blade to hit Shinigami. For each swing a slash of energy shot at Shinigami, the first one diliberately missed, left a noticable impression on the brick wall that it hit. After sending several energy slashes into Duo's direction, Harm changed his eyes from red to black, as the sword stopped glowing no longer having the energy to sustain it. Moving faster now, Harm launched another attack with the swords handle onto Duo's chest. He then got less than an inch away from Duo's face. "Tell me, am I still a dissappointment? Still haven't gotten to my best yet."

The energy blasts narrowly missed Duo; her eyes were trained on Harm trying to judge his actions.

"Tell me, am I still a disappointment? Still haven't gotten to my best yet."

Blood and bile rose in her throat as Harm's sword connected with her chest, she spat the horrid concoction into Harm's eyes...taking the opportunity she raked her knifed nails down his sword arm, the flesh curling under the nails, the follicles peeling from his skeletical frame in warped streamers.

“You’re a disappointment to all Harm!” She whispered viciously, using the base of her scythe to deliver a strike that was intended to splatter his nose over his face. “You were a rubbish bad guy, an even lousier good guy, and you weren’t exactly the thing friends are made out of!” Her eyes shone violet, emitting a luminous glare as she summoned her army of spears once more, “face it…you’re a disappointment to everyone…no wonder everyone prefers Greta…at least she could fulfil the roles she played! Now there’s inspiration for you…I wonder if she’ll even care if I gut you open…perhaps she’ll be glad to see you gone, the last living memory of her pain, gone in an instant…” She let lose 7 spears, long with a circumferences several inches round, they lodged into harm, effectively nailing his arse to the wall. “Well…only one way to find out…” she smiled lusciously as she let loose the rest of her spears…

The fury in Harm began rising more as Shinigami taunted him. The spears pinning him to the wall weren't helping either. Harm glared at Shinigami, his vision now coming back just in time to see the rest of the spears coming at him. His fury began to boil inside him again. He then unleashed an energy beam from his eyes, with the same intensity that had previously scalled Vittorio. Harm had never shot a beam that big out of his eyes before, and he immediatly realized why as his eyes began burning, he was having a hard time turning off the blast. Finally, he was able to will the demonic energy to stop coming out of his eyes.

Harm was able to free one of his arms, and began to pull the spears out, burning his hands each time he grabbed one. But he didn't care, all he cared about was making sure Duo went through the same pain he did. He walked past his sword, knowing he wouldn't need it. He began drawing more power from from his sponsor as he cracked his knuckles.

"Some of what you said could be true, Shin. Maybe I was a sucky hero, everyone probably does like Greta bettter. But.." Harm speedily shoved his burnt and bloody fist into Duo's stomach, using the borrowed power. "...you've never seen me as a real villain." He then jumped thrusting his knee into Duo's chin. "Vittorio's never seen me as a villain, despite what he thinks he knows about me. No one would ever accuse me of being the best friend..." He then launched a kick on Shinigami's shoulder, which he used to propel himself off. "..But at least I haven't killed the only person who cared about me so much that they wouldn't even attack back. I was never that cheap."

As Harm landed pain laced through his entire body, but he embraced it. All the burns, all the blood, none of it mattered in the big picture. Only one of them was getting out of this alley.

Harm's strikes were ferocious in force and she felt each rip into her, she doubled over as she was struck in the stomach only to have her head forced back with a hit to her chin, whiplash taking it's toll on her neck. Pain lanced up and down her spine and she was unable to dodge the kick harm aimed for her shoulder and she cried out in pain as her shoulder dislocated, her entire arm going limp and her scythe cluttered noisily to the ground at her feet.

She cradled her limp arm with the other, the pain receding as the limb went numb...she had no time to pop it back into place...she couldn't give Harm a second. She switched her stance so she was sideways on, her dislocated arm as far from Harm as was possible.

". But at least I haven't killed the only person who cared about me so much that they wouldn't even attack back. I was never that cheap."

Shin's snarl grew in intensity, her lips drawn back to reveal her bared teeth, “Don’t give me that c**p!!!” She ordered. “He didn’t give a damn! He pitied me, not cared…I’m never going to be pitied again!” She rose from the ground, her hair sprayed out about her, fluttering in the wind her wings created, whipping about her, obscuring her violet eyes. “I rather he hated and feared me then pitied me!!!” She screamed diving to drive a heel into Harms chest and twisting, following with a round house kick to his head. “Never again!”

Harm went flying into the wall as his body felt like it was exploding from Shinigami's blows. He coughed up blood as he looked at Shinigami. "You get...pretty strong when you're desperate." Harm then began to smirk, before he slowly started laughing. "You know what's really pitiful? That you have to make up a lie to justify killing him." The wounds in his ribs made talking much more difficult, but honestly it was giving him time to rest. "He cared and you know it, I'm the one who pities you."

Harm musters his strength as his eyes flash white and Shinigami's wound's, including her dislocated arm are healed. His evil smirk returns on his face. "No fun in breaking your arm if it's already dislocated. Gotta make it last." Harm taunted. He drew once more from his Hellpower, siphoning more strength from the demon Preow. "So the question is. You're better now, I pity you, whatcha gonna do about it?" While it may have sounded like Harm was playing mind games, to be honest he was simply looking for a fight. The darkness, the pain, everything around him, he embraced it. You could think of it as an escape from his own thoughts. The more upset Duo got at him the more vicious she would come at him. The blood began to drip from his ribs, the boosted strength only making it worse. "Bring it, Duo." Harm snarled stressing Shinigami's name.

"He cared and you know it, I'm the one who pities you."

<Lies...>

Shinigami felt her wounds heal; the pain that had consumed the majority of her body was gone in an instant.

"No fun in breaking your arm if it's already dislocated. Gotta make it last. Bring it, Duo."

"MY NAME ISN'T DUO!!!" She screamed, her wings beating furiously with her anger. "Duo doesn't exist!!! She was a facade created by that b**ch girlfriend of yours' soul!!!"

She twirled her scythe so the blade was pointing downwards but the tip in Harm's direction.

"I am Shinigami...I am whole again...no pain, no suffering because I feel no remorse!" She dived at Harm then bringing the scythe blade upwards so that it hooked into his stomach, accompanied by a fountain of blood.

She yanked Harm towards her, the scythe still deeply embedded in him. "I bet you wish you had never bothered to come find me tonight...I don't even know why you did bother if all you ever do is PITY me” She whispered harshly, twisting the scythe a fraction to emphasise her words.

"I am Shinigami...I am whole again...no pain, no suffering because I feel no remorse!"

Harm jerked as the went through his stomach. It finally hit him that maybe it wasn't the best idea to give her all her strength back. No point in backtracking now. But as he heard Shinigami's words he started laughing uncontrollably, although it was hard to tell where the laugh ending and the bloody coughing began. "I think the lady...doth protest too much...Who exactly are you trying to prove yourself to?...Me?...or your...self..." Harm's vision began going blurry again, he wanted to heal himself but he didn't have enough energy to control the power.

All he could do was summon more strength and try to take down Duo before he finally passed out from the blood loss. "Heh, anyone ever tell you that you hit like a girl?" Harm said using his closeness to deliver a blow to Shinigami at close range.

"...I don't even know why you did bother if all you ever do is PITY me"

"Whoever said I always pittied you? Honestly when you defied Satan I had respect for you, it wasn't until today that I started to pity you." Harm then delivered a desperate head butt onto Duo's face, pulling himself out of the scythe. At this point he delivered a punch with all of his remaining power to her stomach, before switching sponsors and firing an energy blast though the same fist he punched with.

"Heh, anyone ever tell you that you hit like a girl?" Shin's eyes began to water, blurring her vision from where Harm had head butted her. She tried to shake off the disorientated fuzziness clouding her thoughts. <But...I am a girl...> her misted mind replied lamely. <NO!!! You are much more then that now!!!>

The fist connected to her stomach followed by an energy blast, it sent her careering backwards, flipping over she landed on her hands and knees, the skin scrapped raw as she skidded across the floor. And Harm's words rang in her mind; clear even as the blood pounded in her ears. Who exactly are you trying to prove yourself to?...Me?...or your...self..."

<He's just trying to confuse you...to weaken you...>

"You think your opinion matters to me?!" She screamed, her voice spiteful and vindictive. She was loosing control, her initial calm, the clarity was being confounded by Harm's taunts, hitting nerves she didn't know she had...that she thought she had obliterated.

She was alone in her anger, she was oblivious to all but Harm as she concentrated, drawing on every ounce of energy she had, her fists were glowing orbs unto themselves, her fingers burning with the strain as her knifed fingers flared.

"I don't care what you or anyone else thinks!" She whispered to herself. She slashed at Harm's face with both hands, one hand in a downward movement and the other in an upward movement, the movements performed with accurate symmetry. "I don't care!!!"

Harm seemingly dodged the slashes, but in reality he was falling back from exhaustion. Even then, the mere force of the blows left slash marks across Harm's face. But at this point there was so much of his blood everywhere that you could barely notice, yet he was still laughing. "If you really didn't care...you wouldn't be getting...so upset..." Harm's every muscle aching as he stood back up.

Harm then quickly looked up, the blood dripping from his hair. He slowly began to circle her, honestly because that was all he could do at this point. "You know you care, you're trying to convince me that you're evil. But really you still have your goodness, it's just nagging in the back of your mind. You're not free Duo, think about it. You went from being free, back to being a minion." Harm said lifting his finger and pointing at his head. He knew that while he was sincerely getting his butt handed to him, he was getting in her head. He was using her having some goodness left in her, as a taunt but seeing her frustration he began to wonder. Maybe the good she had in her was just too suppressed by the evil in that alley, just like he wasn't focusing his energy on anyone but her, it was probably the same way with her.

'We are seriously too similar.' Harm realized. As a matter of fact, she was probably purely feeding off his evil. Neither one of them probably even realized that Wonder Girl and Vittorio were duking it out as well. "Duuuuuuuuooooooooo." Harm taunted, keeping his pace as he circled Shinigami.

"If you really didn't care...you wouldn't be getting...so upset..."

She couldn't answer him...and that only fuelled her frustration.

"You know you care, you're trying to convince me that you're evil. But really you still have your goodness, it's just nagging in the back of your mind. You're not free Duo, think about it. You went from being free, back to being a minion."

<It was never my goodness...it was Cassie's...never mine...> Harm began to circle her, his face still taunting, mocking..."Duuuuuuuuooooooooo."

"STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She bellowed, throwing spears aimlessly. "Stop it, stop it, stop it!!!" She chanted, twirling in a circle, her eyes trailing Harm. "Duo doesn't exist...she was an illusion, a façade!!!” She shook her head from side to side, the words pulsating in her skull; Harm’s sinister smirk was all she could see. “She’s not real…she’s something I could never truly be…” her eyes were dulling, just a fraction, loosing their violet intensity to reveal a darker onyx colour. “You can just SHUT UP!!! Stop pretending you know me…stop pretending you give a damn!!!” She was getting desperate…she had beaten Harm into a bloody pulp, his life’s bloodstained the alley floor and it’s walls, flurries of it marring the already waste smeared walls. She had ripped into him, ripped into Cassie, and killed Marx. Why didn’t they walk away…why the hell didn’t they just walk away…?

"You can just SHUT UP!!! Stop pretending you know me...stop pretending you give a damn!!!"

Harm stopped laughing as he cocked his head to the side looking at Duo. "You really think that don't you? We're much more alike than you want to admit...." Harm stopped pacing in front of her. "You're not the only one who has a link to Cassie, she didn't give you your goodness, she simply gave you access to it." It was starting to get more obvious that he could barely stand, if she decided to attack him, he'd be out. But one last thought came to his mind that could possibly save Duo, as upset as he was at her, he had to try.

"You know, there's one power that nobody's seen me use. I've only done it once, didn't go over too well. It takes you to the Death Realm. But since you don't go through the Abyss, it hurts like Hell. More importantly it's a neutral zone, death isn't good or evil. Whoever you really are, it'll come out through there. Are you so sure about who you are now?" Harm said looking into Duo's eyes, as his turned gray. Suddenly the world around them both warped as they seemed to disappear.

As they were ripped from their reality the pain that Harm had suffered in the fight between Duo and Vittorio seemed meaningless in comparison to the pain he was feeling at the moment. 'Yeah, now I remember why I never do this' He thought to himself through the pain. He didn't even realize it but he was yelling at the top of his lungs, a scream of agony. Gradually the pain stopped, as he forced himself to stop shaking and looked up to see the nothingness with the exception of Duo, who he'd been able to pull through. They were there... "D-Duo?"