My head

A/N: <inner thoughts>

'thought communication'

------------

Having gotten back home, I stuck to Sakazuki like glue. I had avoided everyone, including Ghost and Grey. My head hurt constantly, so Sakazuki kept me in his lap most of the time.

After having a long day at work, Sakazuki brought me home. I had been silent for a few days, not wanting to speak. But today wasnt a good day.

'I'm too old for this,' I commented quietly as I stared at the seemingly endless and dark stairs.

Sakazuki back tracked a few stairs, back to where I was standing, "I'll carry you."

I didnt move, 'Why?'

"Because, like you said, you're getting older," he said and slowly lifted me up, "Maybe we should move to the bottom floor."

<he smells nice> 'Indeed,' I agreed with myself.

He silently walked up the stairs. Once we got to the apartment, he laid me in his bed and softly pet my head, "You dont seem like you're doing okay. Is there something I can do to help?"

<What was the thing we road before at water 7?> 'I think riding the sea train was fun,' I said quietly, 'I wont mind doing it again.'

"I'll take a vacation and we can go," he said a bit nervously.

<I want to see it again>

<Taste his blood>

<Kill them all...>

'I dont want anymore blood,' I laid completely still on my side, 'Will you lay with me?'

I didnt recieve a verbal response, but he laid right behind me and kept petting me. My eyes fluttered closed before two thumps hit the ground, 'Dont you dare give up!'

Two voices yelled angrily. Sakazuki kept a hand on my back, "What are you two talking about?"

'Be quiet, heathens. I'm old, let me take a nap,' I said.

<Ryu...>

<Smoker...>

<Sakazauki...>

<Why do you sleep with beings twice your size?>

<Because...>

<The craving> <The lust> <The abs>

<No, that isnt it>

'Why should I tell you,' I grumbled.

'Uh, because we want to know?' Ghost asked confused.

<What did we sing that one night when we abducted Kuzan?>

'Let it go,' I said and closed my eyes.

"Hey, that wasnt nice. They are worried about you," Sakazuki said near my ear.

<Lie>

<Tell the truth>

<Ignore them>

'This is unbearable,' I sighed and slowly put a paw over my eyes, 'Let me sleep.'

'Fine... Come on Ghost, he needs time,' Grey said.

After a few minutes, everything became cold.

<Why keep hiding?>

<Its so boring here>

<It is. Can I have a go?>

Ignoring everything, I slowly opened my eyes to find outlines of three people.

<Look who decided to wake up>

<Its time for you to go>

<I have things to do, I'll take over>

'Who are you?'

<You dont know?>

<How could he not know?>

<We are you>

'Who am I?'

<Ken>

<Balthazar>

<Lucifer>

'What?'

<We can help>

<Just unseal>

<Let us make it better>

'Un...seal...'

"No! Stop right there! Salem, what is going on?" a voice called but I couldnt see who spoke.

'Its so dark...'

<Let Lucifer help>

<Lucifer can save you>

<Just unseal me>

'Un...seal...Lucifer'

"Salem!"

<Almost>

<Say it together>

<Take your time, my friend>

"Salem, what's going on with you?"

'I'm risking... the end of my life... to unseal Luci...fer...'

"Who is Lucifer? Can he help you?"

'He says he can...'

"What can I do?"

<He didnt feed you enough>

<He didnt pamper you>

<He didnt warm the ice in your heart>

'How... did you... know...'

"Salem?"

'HOW... DID... YOU...KNOW..'

<Because>

<We are one>

<We are you>

'Do you pro...mise... to... take care... of... him..?'

<Always>

<Forever>

<Even if you didnt ask>

"No. I dont accept it."

'And them... as well..'

<Of course>

<Plan on it>

<Your wish shall be granted>

'Unseal... Lucifer'

A light flashed gently before my head hurt. I slowly sat up, noticing I was in Sakazuki's office, I blinked the sleep out of my eyes, 'Do you know someone named Lucifer?'

"Nope. Why?" he asked.

'Crazy dream I guess,' I said quietly.

"Okay. Would you like some tea?" he asked.

'No, I'm alright,' I said and yawned before laying my head in his lap.

"Are you okay?"

<No>

<He smells good>

<I wish I could feel his warmth>

'It is cold...,' I sighed and yawned again. A hand lightly touched my head, softly petting me, "If you were smaller, I'd be able to hold you in my lap."

I coughed a bit and felt dizzy, 'What's going on?'

<You should unseal Lucifer>

<He can help>

<I will help>

'Will it hurt..?'

"Will what hurt?" Sakazuki asked.

I couldnt help yawning again, but everything was dark. I felt the cold touch of the floor and couldnt help sighing, 'I'm too old it seems.'

<Remember>

<Remember>

<Remember>

An image flashed through my eyes, a couple was sitting on a blanket under a tree. The smaller one was... 'Ryu?'

<Remember>

<Your body is on fire>

<Your heart frozen with ice>

The image changed slightly. Ryu was laying dead in the mans arms, 'Ryu...'

<Remember>

<We made a promise>

<His final words>

'The sea train...,' I thought as the words of a dying man went through my head.

"Salem...," a voice called.

'Ryu... I have to save him,' I groaned and forced my body to stand. Everything hurt and I couldnt see.

<He is at his desk>

<Follow our voices>

<Take your time>

I slowly walked, knocking things and people over as I followed in straight lines after the voices, 'Ryu...'

I ended up crawling up the stairs as tears fell from my eyes, the pain almost unbearable. I couldn't hear anything aside from the voices anymore.

<One more flight of steps>

<One more door>

<One more room>

The three voices spoke each line together, waiting for me to accomplish each task before moving and waiting for me again. I guess I made it to the door.

<Do you feel it?>

<His warmth>

<Go to it>

I went straight toward the only warm thing I felt, 'Ryu...'

<Unseal Lucifer>

<Unseal Lucifer>

<Let me help you>

'Unseal Lucifer....,' I felt myself fall over as the pain faded. My body ached but not with the stabbing pain anymore. I felt a hand softly touch my neck, a quiet and familiar voice spoke, "I've called a vet... I know your proud but please..."

My mind started to slip toward darkness before the other man from the picture appeared, "Salem. Get some rest. I'll ensure they are safe and well taken care of."

'Thank you...,' I breathed out softly before passing out, my heart barely beating.

--

Opening my eyes, I noticed an anxious group looking at me but I couldnt visibly see them.

<We are blind>

<Indeed>

<I'll unseal you soon. Let me figure this out> I thought and slowly lifted my head, 'My head hurts.'

"You're awake," a voice said happily.

"I was so worried about you," another voice said.

'Where am I?' I thought and tried to look around.

"Can you see?" someone asked.

'...so tired...,' I laid back down and sighed, 'Why cant I speak though?'

"Salem?" a voice gently called next to my ear.

'Oh right, it's my birthday...,' I sighed, 'Too bad there isnt any earl grey cakes with earl grey buttercream.'

<I know>

<Happy birthday us>

-Host recieved birthday gift. Open?-

-Y/N?-

'Yes...,' I thought.

-Host recieved earl grey snack basket x100-

<Damn>

<Where was my giant gift baskets>

'The gods have not forsaken me,' I said and waved a paw in front of my face. Smelling a cupcake, I opened my mouth and ate part of it, 'Tastes amazing.'

'Salem, we can hear the thoughts your projecting...,' a voice said.

'Ah. I didnt know...,' I sighed and finished my cupcake, 'I cant see and my body hurts.'

"Do you remember what happened?" someone asked.

'!!! He is in danger... I have to save him,' I said and forced my body to stand again.

"Who is in danger?" someone asked, the voice so familiar, as if what I sought.

'Ryu... Hes going to die... I cant... I cant let it happen...,' I said and fell off the table, 'Ryu...'

A hand lightly touched my side, "Im here..."

I leaned into the hand, 'I made it...'

"Is something the matter with him? How is he going to die?" someone asked gently.

Images popped into my head, the days before and leading up to the war as well as a few days after it. I shook my head, getting dizzy before something held me up. Furry?

'Salem, What's going on,' a voice said.

'...I'm not...,' I said quietly and laid down slowly, 'I just need to rest. I'm old and tired.'

'You almost die today... Why,' another voice asked.

I shook my head, 'I'll answer your questions later.'

"I'll bring you home," a familiar voice said.

------

~~~Sakazuki's POV~~~

Ever since they came back from the trip, Salem has been acting odd. He hasnt ate or drank anything for days, maybe I should keep him next to me in case something happens...

A few days ago, he started talking in his sleep. Each time he did, he got damn close to saying to unseal 'Lucifer', whoever that is. Yesterday, he couldnt walk up the stairs after a really long day at the office. He didnt really say much other than 'I'm too old for this.'

As I lifted him, I couldnt help thinking, if he just wanted to be pampered then he would have asked directly. On that thought, I asked him, "Maybe we should move to the bottom floor."

He took a minute but agreed... I'm worried but what can I say. Choosing to make him more comfortable, I laid him in my own bed. I sat behind him and softly pet him, telling him I was worried.

He simply mumbled something about the sea train and wanting to go again... Is he dying? "I'll take a vacation and we can go."

He stopped moving completely, his chest barely rising, 'I dont want anymore blood... Will you lay with me?'

I didnt know what to say so I laid behind him, petting his back and head as gently as I could. We laid there for maybe an hour before his eyes began to slowly close. Those two jack asses stomped on the floor when they appeared, not caring if they break things, 'Dont you dare give up!'

My hands froze, "What are you two talking about?"

'Be quiet... heathens... I'm old... Let me take a nap,' Salem quietly said.

'I'll be quiet when you explain,' Ghost grumbled out.

'Your power is fading, otherwise the barrier to keep us away wouldnt have failed either,' Grey said.

"What?" I asked.

'He placed a barrier on himself, to keep us from coming to him. He wants to die and knows we wont let him,' Grey said angrily.

'Why Salem,' Ghost asked quietly.

'Why should I tell you,' Salem grumbled.

'Uh, because we want to know,' Ghost cried.

'Let it go,' Salem spoke and closed his eyes.

"Hey, that wasnt nice. They are worried about you," I said quietly.

'Let us help. What can we do?' Grey asked.

'Can we lay with you,' Ghost asked.

'...this is unbearable,' Salem said as he placed his paw on his face, 'Just let me sleep.'

'Fine... Come on Ghost, he needs time,' Grey said before both disappeared.

I got up and went to the bathroom. When I came back, he was rambling on about unsealing Lucifer... Who is Lucifer?

He finally fell asleep. I couldnt sleep, thinking he was a single breath from death kept me awake.

I brought him to work, planning to finish some paperwork before I brought him back to Water 7. Just after lunch, he finally moved. He lifted his head, 'Do you know someone named Lucifer?'

That again? "Nope. Why?" I asked nervously.

'Crazy dream I guess,' he said.

"Okay. Would you like some tea," I asked, trying to get him to at least drink.

'No, I'm alright,' he said and laid his head in my lap.

This isnt normal..., "Are you okay?"

His ear twitch, as if he heard something, '... it is cold.'

I didnt hear anyone but he agreed with them that it was cold... "If you were smaller, I'd be able to hold you in my lap."

He didnt seem to head me properly before he coughed slightly. My pants leg felt wet, so I leaned to check it out as he mumbled, 'What's going on?'

"When did you have blood?" I asked. hoping it wasnt his.

'Will it hurt?' he mumbled.

"Will what hurt?" I asked.

He didnt speak, giving a yawn but when he opened his eyes they werent red irises but pink... Is he blind? Before I realized it, he fell over and sighed, 'I'm too old it seems.'

He became puzzled, while I called for a vet. He confusedly said, 'Ryu?'

Like the secretary? Sengoku's secretary? I thought you hated him? "Something is wrong with Satan, I can carry him but Where should I bring him?"

The person in the other line gave me an address. As I was about to pick up Salem, he sadly called out, 'Ryu...'

His claws came out, as tears fell from his eyes... Those arent tears, its blood...

'Ryu... I have to save him...,' Salem groaned and slowly stepped toward the door.

I called the people back, "I need you to come here."

"Right away sir," they called.

I couldnt see Salem but I followed the blood trail and saw him crawling up the stairs, clawing the edges apart as he pulled himself. People were walking toward him so I called out, "Give him space."

People finally took notice of him and moved aside. I followed at a distance and watched him just go straight down the middle of the halls and didnt move when people walked toward him. He didnt seem to care that he was knocking into things but the amount of blood on the ground was enough to make me nervous. The closer we got to Sengoku's office, the more blood there was.

He paused in from of the door of the office and swayed before walking right into the door and forcing it open. Worried, I looked inside as he spoke, 'Ryu...'

As he fell to the ground in front of Ryu, Ryu didnt seem to notice me, as he softly pet Salem. I spoke quietly, "I called a vet."

Ryu nodded, gently petting Salem, "I know you have a lot of pride, but please dont make things difficult for the vet."

Salem stopped breathing as the blood quit falling. Once the vet arrived, Salem slowly took a deep breath in and let out a faint sigh. He isnt dead...

The vet found nothing wrong with him. Garp, Sengoku, Ryu, Borselino, Grey, and Ghost all came along. When Salem opened his eyes, they stayed pink as he seemingly looked around but his eyes didnt stop on anything, 'My head hurts...'

Sengoku and Garp spoke to him. 'Where am I?' Salem spoke as if completely confused.

"Can you see," I asked.

'...so tired... Why cant I speak though,' he seemed so confused.

Borselino spoke next to Salems ear, "Salem?"

'Oh right... Todays my birthday,' he sighed, 'Too bad there isnt any earl grey cakes with earl grey buttercream.'

His eyes seemed to sparkle for a second, 'Yes.'

He smiled faintly, 'The gods have not forsaken me....' He waved a paw and a giant cake appeared, he ate half in a bite, 'Tastes amazing.'

'Salem, we can hear the thoughts your projecting,' Grey said.

'Ah. I didnt know,' he seemed confused like he didnt know what was going on before he finished his cake, 'I cant see and my body hurts.'

Garp quietly asked, glancing at me, "Do you remember what happened?"

Salem became alarmed, 'He is in danger... I have to save him.'

Salem forced his body up again. Ryu held a sad face, "Who is in danger?"

'Ryu... Hes going to die... I cant... I cant let it happen...,' Salem said and fell off the table. His voice full if pain as he cried softly, 'Ryu...'

As Ryu gently laid his hand on Salems side he spoke, "I'm here..."

Salem seemed so relaxed now, 'I made it...'

Salem shook his head, mumbling, 'I dont care if it's the world... I'll save him this time...'

The others didnt seem to hear him. He shook his head and Grey held him up.