Pushing himself back up, Haruki's eyes widened at the sight of the shadow before him. He barred his teeth at him, his bare feet spreading on the ground into an attacking stance, the blade of Kurohana ready to slice across him. For some reason, however, it opposed him. The force of Kurohana was different within his hands once more; more akin to the Kurohana that was untamed and wild, but darker, pulsing with a force that he couldn't restrain. It was blazing with a fire as black as the night itself. Yet, he had faith in himself, that he can keep it under his control.<br/><br/>The sound of another's steps, crunching on leaves, made him twitch. A shadow, not tall, and unlike the Black Blades unmistakable for a human, stood on the edge of the clearing.<br/>"Haruki? Blake?" she spoke up, her hands clenching around the tsuka of the katana, hanging by her side. "What is this supposed to mean?"<br/>Her voice was cold and serious. Nothing of the usual flirty behavior; this time, Nyoko had no time for jokes. The blade of Akaihana was withdrawn from its sheath.<br/><br/>Haruki's eyes, crimson like blood, narrowed. "Stay your hand. You and Blake have to leave now. He wants you first... I'll make sure he doesn't get you." he spoke up, nearing his hand to the tip of the long blade, gathering the fire inside of his palm once more.<br/>"Your fun ends here." he turned his head towards<span style="font-style: italic">him</span>once more, the blackness growing. Suddenly, without any warning, he leaped forth, towards him, cutting across the ball of black fire, which was stretched into a large arc, sent flying before him. He couldn't allow Blake and Nyoko to sacrifice themselves for him again.<br/><br/>He failed before... He couldn't fail again. That wasn't a burden he could bear, it wasn't a weight he could carry on his shoulders. Even if Kurohana would consume him... It wasn't only the spirit, it was the essence inside it, with which the blade was soaked, the darkness that filled it... And the darkness in him, too.