Vaan was not unconscious this time in the previous sense. His body was healed, but his mind had been exhausted. At this point in time, he was merely sleeping, drifting off into an unavoidable dream. The man was simply standing there, in a place not unlike Death's void, except for being an endless black in color. He was facing Abaddon, the demon of destruction who'd chosen to bond with him. This demon, at least, was as intimidating as one would expect such a creature to be. He was at least twelve feet tall, and very muscular in build. His skin was a dead grey, but appeared red because of all the flames that came off of it. In fact, he was drenched in red flames; royal hellfire that came in a shade unseen on earth. He seemed to have a skull for a head, but not a human one. It had horns, and distended forward a ways, like a horned dog or something. Wisps of light circled around him and moaned, as horrible as it sounded, they were probably damned souls whose punishment duties were given to this monster. This was the third time Vaan had seen his demon's image.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Did you like it?"</span>the demon asked.<span style="font-style: italic">"The new power of destruction you've discovered."</span><br/><br/>Vaan nodded. He thought it was interesting that a power of destruction could do something other than destroy. "I'd like to continue my lessons," he stated.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Already?"</span>the demon laughed.<span style="font-style: italic">"Just using displacement caused you to pass out, and you want to thrust your mind deeper into chaos?"</span><br/><br/>"That's what I said," Vaan said, his voice sounding like he was merely stating a fact, and not a desire. His face and eyes were devoid of almost all the emotion they used to have. He used to laugh at chaos and destruction, but now that he understood their importance he'd found a new sense of duty.<br/><br/>Abaddon seemed to frown.<span style="font-style: italic">"I can teach you one more skill,"</span>he said.<span style="font-style: italic">"But if you push any harder so soon you'll destroy yourself. Remember--"</span><br/><br/>"-- All fire needs fuel and I'm on the list," Vaan finished. He'd already grasped the statement and put it to heart. "If I'm careful I won't have to give up any more of myself than I have to. If it's too much I'll tell you and we can stop the lesson."<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"...Fine,"</span>Abaddon consented.<span style="font-style: italic">"Let's begin."</span><br/><br/>In order to learn a new skill, Vaan had to further increase his compatibility with the black hellfire. To do that, he had engross himself in such things as chaos, destruction, life, creation, and death, until they were a part of him. Usually, Abaddon helped him to do this by showing him images. The subjects were deep though, and if an image was too great for him to understand, trying to look might destroy his very being. It was essential he didn't push himself too hard. He was only human after all, and he was trying to learn what Abaddon had been learning since the beginning of time.<br/><br/>----------------------------------<br/><br/>Owari waited several minutes for his master to make an appearance. When he didn't, the boy strolled over to the window to look down at the used-to-be city. From where he was, he couldn't see either the Reverend or Levin, and he took to fingering the little cross necklace strung around his neck. When he realized what he was doing, he looked down at the accessory, then grasped it tightly in his palm, his body visibly shaking.<span style="font-style: italic">Why am I so angry?</span>he wondered, surprised at himself. The boy went over to a nearby chair and sat down.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Why are you angry?"</span>a light voice inside him asked.<span style="font-style: italic">"Don't you have everything you want? You get to spend so much time with him, and he values you."</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Oh, hello Hadriel,</span>the boy responded to the voice. Just hearing it relieved a little of his anger. It reminded him that he was the only Silencer that the Reverend had seen fit to bind with an angel instead of a demon.<span style="font-style: italic">Yes, but I feel like I'm still only half-way to where I want to be. I... feel unappreciated. --But I suppose that's just me being greedy. I.. should be satisfied.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"You should,"</span>Hadriel agreed,<span style="font-style: italic">"but the heart can be a fickle thing. Give it time. You're more important to him than either of you realizes."</span><br/><br/>Owari felt the anger leave him. "Yes you're right," he said out loud. "I shouldn't just be sitting here either. There's work I should be doing."<span style="font-style: italic">I'll work hard and make him proud of me, and that will be enough.</span>The boy headed off to begin summoning more demon fodder. This city would need to be rebuilt now that the Hunters and humans were out of the way.<br/><br/>----------------------------------<br/><br/>As events progressed and Death spoke again, Hiei saw his chance. In the blink of an eye he was standing beside Death and Adeline. He didn't care about the state of the city, he just wanted out. To hell with cloaking too! He could run fast enough to evade sight until he found some place safe where he could be alone. Hiei's plan in a nut shell was to get out and make a break for it. Being alone was really all he was thinking about at the moment.<br/><br/>----------------------------------<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Romantic huh?</span>Hatsu thought. He hadn't really been trying to be romantic, just saying what was on his mind, but thinking back, it had sounded like Sam described. And that really didn't bother him. He nodded at her next statement. "Well, I'll be glad to travel with someone," he said, smiling at her. "Also, when all this fighting's done, I want to take some time to enjoy the new powers I have. No one said they could only be used to fight demons and Silencers, right? And it might be fun to tour the world by air too." he said, adding in a small laugh. He hoped Sam wasn't afraid of heights; he'd love to take her flying with him.<br/><br/>A few moments later, Death opened another portal. It sounded like he was inviting them to come outside and take a look around. He didn't particularly care to see, but Yami practically bit his ear off about it. "So," he turned to Sam, not wanting to just force her head off her shoulder, "I guess I'll go see what the meteor did. Want to come with?"