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Chapter Thirty: Our Pact:

Tsuzuki raced over to Anna. "Anna-chan! Anna-chan, are you okay? What happened?" He grabbed her by the shoulders. To his surprise, Anna looked up and smiled.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said. Tsuzuki blinked.

"What happened?" he asked. Anna looked down at Nobu.

"He tried to kill me, but I fought back," she said.

"How?" her man asked.

"With my own power," Anna bragged. However, not without a price. By morning, Anna had a violent migraine and couldn't understand why. When it didn't let up, Tsuzuki insisted she see Watari this time. In too much pain to argue, Anna consented.

"Just make it stop," she complained. Watari did another scan on her. The full results came back in an hour.

"Well?" Tsuzuki asked. Watari had a somber look on his face.

"The shield is broken even further," he said. "The cracks got deeper." Watari turned to Anna. "You've been studying the kitsune's magic, haven't you?" the blonde scientist asked.

"Yes!" she whimpered. Watari shook his head.

"Oh, that's not good," he said.

"Why?" Anna asked. Watari showed her the screen.

"You see," he explained. "Your dad has shielded your kitsune so long, that your body doesn't recognize your own powers." Anna stared at him.

"And?" she asked.

"Your body is attacking your powers," Watari said.

"Like a virus?" Tsuzuki asked.

"Exactly," Watari replied.

"So these headaches are…" Anna began to say.

"It's your body and Daisuke's shield's way of fighting back," the scientist said, nodding.

"Seriously?" Anna asked.

"Yeah," Watari said. The woman sank back into her chair.

"So what I am supposed to do?" she asked.

"About which?" the scientist asked. "Your headaches or your powers?"

"Both," Anna whimpered. Watari leaned in close.

"For your headaches, they'll clear up in an hour," he said. "For your powers, don't use them. You have Tsuzuki and us to protect you." Anna's frown deepened.

At eleven a.m., Tsuzuki found Anna outside in the courtyard. She stared at the cherry blossoms in the trees. Her boyfriend felt some sympathy for her. He walked over next to the woman. Anna glanced over at him. Her man tried to stay positive.

"I can understand your efforts," he began. She didn't speak.

"I do admire your ambitions," the shinigami tried again. "I really do." Anna turned back to the view. She was bitter. He put his arm around her.

"I am not lying," Tsuzuki reasoned. "I really do appreciate what your drive is. Just let us help you, okay? I want to help in any way possible." Anna kept her eyes forward.

"You want to help me?" she asked. Tsuzuki nodded.

"Yes, yes," he said. Anna glanced at him.

"Then let me get stronger," she said. "It's the only way." She turned to him with pleading eyes. Tsuzuki stared back at her.

"But you could die," he said. She clutched his hands.

"Then don't let me," Anna insisted.

"I don't understand you," he said. His beloved pushed herself to say the rest.

"Stop me from losing myself," Anna said. "Pull me back out when I get too deep. Do that for me." Tsuzuki became serious as he clutched her hands.

"I will," he said. Anna smiled as she bowed her head.

"Thank you," she whispered. The shinigami gave her a little smile.

"Anything else malady?" he asked.

"Well, I'd like to see more of Meifu for a bit," Anna said. Tsuzuki gave her a puzzled look.

"Why? It looks just like Chijou," he said. Anna tried to repress a giggle.

"Except for the year-round cherry blossoms," she pointed out. "Plus, I wouldn't know that being as all I see is the inside of Ju-Oh-Cho." Tsuzuki nodded.

"Alright, where do you want to go first?" he replied.

"Anywhere," she said. Tsuzuki chuckled.

"How about we start with a walk?" he offered.

"Good enough," his fiancée said. From inside Ju-Oh-Cho, Tatsumi watched them leave. He frowned and shook his head.

/This can't be good/, he thought. Now, he understood how Hisoka felt.

Owari