Shadow Raven .........a battle royale at school....

The sound through the campus grounds was one word chanted like a mantra. 'Fight' Over and over again as if something pure and sacred was going on. Ichigo could not believe this he had met this one the other day in the park a while back with Mako. His name he believed was Kanari couldn't forget it because it was such an unusual name for a guy.

The two were facing off Crow and Kanari both looking like they were about to kill each other with Ichi being told to stay bluntly out of this by Crow who was gonna kick Kanari's ass. Why?

Crow had just said something to him as a joke something funny no doubt and Kanari had looked at him with this exasperated look and said. "Your a fucking idiot....what the hell do you know?'

The end result the two facing off.

Kanari scowled at the one before him he didn't know him didn't care just another asshole seeking to pick a damn fight with him for no other reason then he could. Kanari shifted the heavy black combat boots and red capri's in place. The white belt wrapped around his leg white dress shirt and black vest with collar around his neck. His crimson red eyes locked coldly on Crow as his kept his hand loosely open and stood in a fighting position. He didn't even know what the hell this one's problem with him was. He had just walked away from an idiot class mate who had been laminating about how smart and sexy Mako-sensei was and how he was just dying to go on a date with him and get to know him and well in essence had annoyed and pissed him off so he walked away.....since Mako had asked him nicely not to gut any of his fellow classmates or else loose his knives again....and this time the damn fox would not give them back. And now? He was stuck fighting this damn student who he didn't know and if he pulled his knives in the fight he lost them.....it sucked.

"Fucking asshole take another damn swing at my head and there'll be nothing left of you...." Kanari said in a cold flat tone as Crow in answer to Kanari had swung at his head missed as Kanari had dodged but.....now a fight was underway.

Ichigo wasn't happy......this wasn't good.....not good at all.

"How about I take a swing at your balls then?" he asked sarcastically as he dropped low and swiped upward with his foot, looking to connect with Kanari's groin. It wasn't really something he was known for, street fighting that is. If it was any other day, he would be using his martial arts, but right now? He was too pissed for that.

"Asshole! I'll tear your fucking head off!" he said as he followed up with a leaping punch to Kanari's chin. He was too fast to be dogged completely, so it was easy to strike at least one or two blows with each combo he used.

It was a joke, but Kanari had told him his was an idiot. That was something that didn't settle well with Crow at all. To be called a punk was fine, because he was used to it, but to be called an idiot...that pissed him off.

Kanari dodged the lower kick seeming to take the upper cut to his jaw shifting on his feet to go with the impact even as he brought his hand down and used the momentum of the swing to push off taking a glancing blow flipping through the air and landing on the blacktop sliding backwards a few feet. "Fucker." he breathed as he slide backwards a few feet before moving coming back at him with his own exchange of blows a low sweep to take out his legs which would seem to only be the one but if dodged could be changed into a high sweeping kick.

Just what the hell was his guys problem anyways? To just suddenly attack him out of the clear blue like that?

"Funny...I could say the same to you!" he said lowly as he dodged, jumping high into the air and back-flipping to avoid a switch in attack methods. But while he was still in the air, he flipped himself around again and brought down a drop kick, following it by a high sweeping kick, aiming for Kanari's side.

He was pissed, but remembered that he was fighting a human so hid his vampiric abilities and strength. A fight isn't fair unless both are on the same level. It's how he always was taught. But his anger fueled his fighting spirit.

Without missing a beat, he dropped down on his back, and as if break dancing, spun into a spinning kick with both legs out to double the number of hits he got. He was certainly not any joke when it came to fighting, nor was he a joke when it came to his studies. He was a punk, a clown sure, but he took fighting and classes very seriously, and for someone to state otherwise...it was often them signing their ticket to the hospital...

Kanari got the blow to the side but managed to dodge the spinning kicks from the ground while he was spinning moved sliding along the ground as if gaining himself a brush burn was an afterthought to kick not at the spinning legs but the main body beneath them. A bit reckless but.....high noon was approaching before long and if he carried this out to long there shadows the massive crowd they had drawn would shift and come into this circle while it was a slight strain on him to fight like this in daylight let those shadows fill this area.......along with his and the one he was fighting and Kanari would be in a world of pain. Crippling pain.

He knew this had to end soon problem was Crow wasn't an average street punk and Kanari just didn't have it in him today to take this fight seriously. And that was likely to get him hurt on so many levels for some reason that infamous temper usually backed by a fighting spirit wasn't stirring up. Probably because.......for once he was trying to figure out how the hell this one happened instead of just fighting usually fights on School ground were with his fellow class mates because he mouthed off again.

This time? He didn't even know the guy who what the hell? Add in his already current distractions with the exams coming up and his mind just couldn't focus on the fight before him and that wasn't going to do him any good. But he couldn't get his ass in gear no matter how hard he tried. "Fuck off asshole I have nothing to do with you!" Kanari growled as he finished his slide on the other side recoiled and bounced to his feet watching him......he wasn't happy....

As if spring loaded, Crow bounced up to his feet before Kanari could even hope to slide in close and jumped over the sliding human, landing as Kanari slid behind him. Turning to look at Kanari, he snorted and retorted sarcastically, "The hell you don't!"

As much of a punk as he could be, he wasn't one to be taken lightly. But the moment he heard the 'clink' of chains, he stopped and straightened himself up as if a soldier falling into 'attention'. He knew that sound...and it was never a good thing to anger the one behind that sound.

And as if on cue, Ingo came into view, hands in his pockets as he walked through the crowd, which parted like the red sea for him. "Mind explaining to me exactly what the hell it is you're doing fighting someone like him Crow?"

Crow just glared at Kanari before he looked back at Ingo and shook his head. "It doesn't matter now...I will stop fighting if it upsets you..."

Kanari scowled but he didn't care......the sooner this was over the better but as soon as that ring of onlookers opened it closed again. "Damn it fucking assholes" although it seemed to be directed at Crow and Ingo it wasn't. He didn't have to glance behind him to know the 'safe zone' in this suicide fight was closing in on him. It's why he didn't get into fights like this why he tried to avoid them. And mostly didn't talk to anyone in school because if he was caged it was trouble.

And he was caged. The crowd all went wide eyed as they seemed to think as it implied that he was calling Ingo and Crow assholes. He shifted moving forwards a bit in a slow arching circle as time ticked away mercilessly above his head reducing the small ring of light even smaller the ability he could move even more. Any closer now and he's seem like he was goading on an attack. When honestly he just wanted to be left alone. No one seemed to get that.

In another few minutes though it wouldn't matter he'd be on his knees holding his arms trying to not scream in pain without a blow landed on him. He turned his head glaring at the crowd but they were more curious to see how Ingo responded to Kanari's flippant answer then they were of moving.....he reached up to reach behind his back....

Ingo moved his gaze to look at Kanari. "I wouldn't do that if I were you..." he said lowly as his crimson eyes stared coldly at the human. "Your knives won't save you...especially if you use them on me..." he finished. He could smell the metal of the knives, so he didn't need to see them to know that they were there.

"As for you..." he said lowly, turning to look at Crow. "You are just wasting your time on a human...you'll kill him before you do anything productive..." he told Crow lowly, coldly, hands still in his pants pockets.

Crow just closed his eyes and nodded. "Right...I will try to remember that next time..."

Ingo snorted, but turned and looked at Kanari again. "If you want to get out of here, I suggest you come with me kid...it's the only way to get out without them following you..."

Kanari scowled as he looked at Ingo the knives weren't meant for either of them. He wasn't opposed to dropping bodies to get them the hell away from him but he shifted moving his hand away from his back. Not loosing them was a better option then loosing them.

Kanari looked at them both the one he had been fighting the and the new arrival and the new arrival was offering a way out of there that didn't involve them following him. Sighing he said nothing not trusting the virus to not twist whatever came out of his mouth like it normally did into something insulting or dark.

Kanari sighed as he followed them not happy about this he knew Ichigo but the kid had wisely perhaps choose to stay out of this and he walked up looking at Ingo the briefest of moments not saying thanks but not looking at him either other then out of the corner of his eye. It was the most he could acknowledge him without something snide and snippish in his eyes or coming out of his mouth.

Ingo had looked down at the kid with those cold crimson eyes of his and simply turned, just walking away, leading the way as the crowd parted for him as if he were Moses parting the Red Sea. If he wanted to be honest, he was just saving the human who dared piss Crow off. It was actually rather kind of him, considering he normally wasn't kind to anyone.

His attitude wasn't really his fault. He had always been like this, and could no more thank someone than he could tell them they were welcome. He wasn't used to it, nor was he going to try to get used to it. The only person he cared to ever thank or tell them that they were welcome was Ichigo and that was it...no one else.

But as he walked, he pursed his lips as he saw the one standing just at the edge of the gate before he chuckled lowly and smirked. "So that's how it is...how amusing..." he said lowly as he looked at the one and only Mako.

Crow had followed along, but kept his distance. He wasn't mad any more, the anger diminished as soon as Ingo entered the circle of students, and he paused for a moment as he took in the sight of Mako standing there, back leaned against the brick work of the school gates, foot resting on the brick work as well, looking more like a punk himself than a teacher. Crow had wondered why...but the moment said the words 'So that's how it is' Crow understood....all too well...

Kanari looked up and sighed as he walked along a thank you would not happen should he be thankful that Ingo interrupted the fight and perhaps stopped the 'cage' from closing sure. Should he be thankful that Ingo's presence made them open a path to allow them all to leave without him getting trapped in there of course. But would he? No. Perhaps in the past before the illness took such firm hold Kanari would have. Then again he may not have either he had had more of a devil may care attitude towards things because some part of him always believed he would die.

But he paused looking up as he heard Ingo speak. 'So that's how it is...how amusing....' and looked over at the gates standing there looking like his normal self was Mako well sorta.....Kanari was certain he was gonna get an ear full for getting into a fight, the likes of which he still wasn't sure of the hows or whys of......

Shaking his head he stepped down and stopped a moment a moment look at Mako, already not feeling well over stressed, not really feeling up to anything not even fighting. Even if Crow had not been holding back Kanari would have lost.....he just wasn't.....right right now. The exams were for the regional's and if he failed the school lost two thirds of it's funding and that was hell coming down on his head. Not Mako oh no as long as he tried as hard as he could that was fine with the fox. The school board was another story.

Kanari stepped down having not been resting lately like he normally did during the day. Working with his studies getting into fights every other day not giving his 'Kage' his shadow time to mend and heal and constantly straining it he felt it slowly shift creeping up his legs a almost hardening as if crystallizing and knew what was coming he had done this one other time to himself. It's why he made a point of napping during lunch. In a few moment's the 'Rei' would be exposed and once that was......he had twenty four hours to reform his shadow without taking any damage or....whoops bye. And suddenly that distance to the gate was far to great to make it before it shattered away. All it would take was an idiot bumping him the only one he knew of that could touch his Rei directly even though the Shadow that formed his body....was Mako.

And so Kanari stopped moving hearing lowly or rather loud consindering it was his body the sound of cracking of crystal or ice slowly cracking. Too low no doubt for Mako to hear where he was but not so for those with him. "Fuck..." he breathed closing his eyes......even as he felt the cold of the shadow leaving him.....so not good.

Kanari opened his eyes to look over at Mako......"Mako.....it's Breaking." He said although his voice held an very uncharacteristic to anyone who knew him it held warmth.......outside of when Mako.....was holding him. There were two things with this......one yes.....his Rei was insanely fragile it was his soul exposed for the world to see.....and easily broken.....but also more dangerous as for some reason that 'cold' of the shadow seemed to manifest inside and he'd.....kill someone before they could touch him unless they were Mako of that Kanari was certain.

Ingo had only taken the time to look at Mako and nod a little, as if confirming the other's presence. It wasn't that he was being rude...it was just...Ingo was only half Kitsune while Mako himself was a full blood, a pure blood and by nature...pure bloods always out ruled the half bloods.

But he didn't need to know who the kid was to know that the boy was sick...he had smelled it the moment he turned the corner. It was one reason why he had stopped Crow. The risk of Crow going from simply angry to furious was too great and the kid...was too sick to fight back...and he was human. And uncharacteristically, Ingo looked at Mako, a sadness coming into his eyes at Kanari's words...'It's breaking...' "Mako...I don't think even you can save him now....the only way to stop his illness...would be to turn him...."

Mako had moved, grabbing hold of Kanari so that he could protect his lovely little human...only to hear Ingo's words. But deep down...he had known that some day...he would have to make this decision... "I know...but only I can touch him...and I'm just a Kitsune...not a vampire...but...you are both..." he said lowly, sadly as he held tightly onto Kanari as he looked at Ingo sadly.

Ingo closed his eyes and finally took his hands out of his pockets. Right...he was both..."Perhaps the Kitsune in me will allow it...but for the sake of being safe...stay there and hold him..."

Kanari felt the arms wrap around him heard them talking knew this wasn't something that Mako had ever wanted to do to make this choice to take it from him. But he closed his eyes, the feeling of safety in his arms could not be ignored.

Kanari didn't look at either one as he rested there. "I......trust you." Although who those words were directed at weren't clear. He knew he was getting weaker and he knew the one person he didn't want to leave or loose was clinging desperately to him as if he would disappear in a matter of moments and sadly........if it wasn't stopped soon there was a chance it would.

Ichigo looked over he had been a reaper long enough to know how to do this and caught the fragile flickering soul in front of him stabilizing it. Allowing him to breathe easier but it was all he could do. That and not allow him to die before they even got the chance to save him he knew once the change started......Ichigo couldn't stop anything at that point it was just getting Kanari there.

Those words had been something that Ingo hadn't expected. He trusted? Trusted who? Him? He looked at Kanari for only a second before he moved to the opposite side of Mako and knelled down by Kanari. "By all of Aoi's love...make it work..." he breathed lowly, hoping, praying that he would be able to save this fragile little human. To save the fragile little human that Mako loved.

With his tiny prayer said, Ingo leaned in, sinking his fangs in and began to drink. It had been something that he had always wished to avoid. Revealing his kitsune half to the prying eyes of the school. But right now...the importance of a dying soul was far greater than Ingo's desire for secrecy. As he drank, his hair turned a pure snow white as ears formed on the top of his head, replacing those of his human ears, and his eyes changed from crimson to a delicate light blue.

This form was the only way to touch the fragile human boy...and so he would use it.

Kanari felt the fangs enter his skin but he didn't tense up. Ironically the idea of being bitten didn't bother him. Nor did it really hurt. He looked at the silver ears on top of his Head. "And they call me pretty?" Of course Kanari had always had a soft spot for foxes ever since he was little. Perhaps because at the tender age of three he had caught a Kitsune by his tail.

Ichigo watched. By all of Aoi's love. He knew his Uncle was a man of great love and no doubt would do what he could to help this boy. Had no idea that in his past life this boy had been his, been Aoi's son. And that Technically still was. Kanari felt sleep creeping up on the edge of his sense's although his body ached and hurt that wasn't so unusual. But nor was the calming of that pain being in Mako's arms and ironically enough Ingo's touch didn't hurt him either. His 'classmate's' gamble that his Kitsune form would allow him to touch Kana had paid off. He was able to without causing him undue pain.

Ichigo closed his eyes. For the sake of everyone here please let it work.... he asked Tamashii, Aoi any who were listening. As his eyes took in Mako who looked as if he would break if this didn't. If this is were Kanari drew in his final breaths.

"Why....were you so.....mad at me anyways.....surely it's not just.....because I am human...." Kanari asked Crow, as he felt his body going lethargic. Or starting to. The up side.....the crystallizing of his skin had slowed to a near stop as if holding a baited breath.

Ingo continued to drink, closing his eyes as he kept drinking. Pretty? It's why he didn't like this form. He didn't want to be pretty. He was a punk, a badass not a pretty boy. And when he finished drinking, he came up, taking a deep breath as if gasping for air. He looked down at Kanari and licked his lips, shaking his head. "Don't want to be pretty...just want to be me..." he said lowly and looked back at Crow who had been keeping his distance.

"Your words before...you called me an idiot...and I dislike when people judge me based on how I look..." he answered lowly as he looked at Kanari. He was keeping his distance, too worried about getting close to the apparently ill kid. He hadn't know...hadn't been himself enough to sense it...

Kanari looked at Ingo as he said tat he didn't want to be pretty, he just wanted to be himself. "Why can't you be both? The way you look doesn't make you who you are..." he said as he looked at him not really understanding that one but then again....Kanari never really stopped to care what people thought of his looks and attitude. Comfortable in his own skin.

Although he glanced over at Crow again when he said that blinking owlishly. "When....did I call you an idiot?" he asked he wasn't swearing at the moment....perhaps because his Kage was on the verge of shattering and if gone......there was a high very high chance he'd fade anyways. That he wouldn't make it the twenty four hours.

Ichigo answered. "Kana....when you rounded the corner you looked at Crow and called him it with an exasperated tone....."

Kanari glanced over at Ichigo a moment then sighed as he let his head drop to rest against Mako. "This is why I keep telling you to let me kill the jerks who think that they seduce you away from me.....so I don't end up making someone innocent think I'm calling them an idiot." Kanari gripped glancing up at Mako and then sighed knowing his darling fox had a soft spot for all of his students finished. "Okay don't answer that I know you won't......would you settle for my kicking his ass? I mean a few bruises broken bones........I won't....rupture any organs.....this time and it won't damage his I.Q. any or lack there of that fucking idiot...." Kanari hated him an foreigner by the name of Axel Graves and to Kanari since the moment the school year started the kid had been denoted the class ultimate fucking idiot......perhaps because he wouldn't stop flirting with Mako and then trying to get Kanari to help Axel win the fox's attention add in Mako absolutely forbid Kana from gutting, stabbing, maiming, or even pulling his knives in class or he'd take them and hide them were Kanari would never find them.....and well.....he spent a lot of his time ranting about the class idiot..... but right now Kanari was talking prattling to take his mind off of his current situation.....

Kanari glanced over at Crow....."Don't judge on appearance.....I'm the last person in the world who has the right to do that one.......only judge people idiots by there actions and the level of intelligence they show......you haven't shown me anything to even begin to get that judgement...it wasn't meant for you.....never was......Can't....control....the Kage and it's timing when I'm irritated or upset....and that's....unfortunately often...unless he's got a hold of me...." Kana said as he looked at Crow fully again only now bits of 'black diamond dust' began to float up off of his skin.....his Kage...his shadow was beginning to leave him.....slowly.

Why couldn't he be...Ingo sighed and closed his eyes. "In my world where I am both...I can only show one...showing my other self...leaves me open, vulnerable and I can't be vulnerable...I have people to protect..." he said lowly as he opened his now light blue eyes to look back down at Kanari. "In my world...I can't be both because it means that I'm proud of who I am..."

Crow felt it before his mind even realized he had moved, face palming himself as he let out an exasperated sigh. Why the hell hadn't he paid more attention?! He would be kicking himself mentally for a century and a half now... "I'm sorry...I...should have paid better attention..." he said lowly, sadly. Now he felt like the biggest ass of the century.

Ingo though, shook his head and brought his wrist up to his mouth and sank his fangs into his own flesh, tearing a deep gash into it and brought it down. "Enough...we can talk later...but for now...drink and save what bit of strength you have left for fighting the pain of the transformation..." he told Kanari lowly as he put his wrist to the slowly fading human's lips.

Kanari listened to them both but before he could respond to either one Ingo was pressing his wrist now open and bleeding to Kanari's lips. He wanted to tell Crow not to worry about it. He didn't exactly come across all that nice normally and knew that once the 'healing' began and if this stabilized and healed his shadow like they were hoping that he'd well......be a cold asshole again unless the damn fox didn't intend on letting go any time soon.

But he could taste the crimson flowing past his lips sweet rich and swallowed Ingo had said to save his strength for the transformation to help with the pain......but the only time he wasn't in pain......was when Mako was holding him. At least not got wrenching and just minor discomfort that soothed itself away the long the fox held him.......But he did as he was told and drank down the crimson fluid that would give him life....