*After breakfast, the gang all split up, thinking they've got a bit of time before that evening to do things f they want to. Laurenza is sat on a sofa, turning the chain Lierlo gave her in her hands.*
Laurenza: *Looks at it and spots something engraved on the back.* 'Apathy...?'
Kuja: *Comes into the room and sits next to her.*
Laurenza: *Without looking at him.* Go away.
Kuja: But Laurenza...
Laurenza: I let you back into the castle, but that doesn't mean things are back to normal between us.
Kuja: But I did the whole putty-out-fire thingy!
Laurenza: And I let you back in the castle. Playing the little hero doesn't take away the fact that you killed Allen, lied to us and almost got Adrienne to take the blame for it.
Kuja: You're right. I'm a terrible person. I plot evil schemes and commit wicked deeds. And so does Lierlo, but you don't seem to care! *He rips the chain off her wrist and throws it at the wall.* He doesn't have to leave the castle! He doesn't get ignored and scorned by you! *He storms out of the room.*

*Kuja heads upstairs, hiccoughing a little, viciously fighting back his tears. He goes to his room and slams the door very loudly. After a few seconds, Thorn opens the door and looks round it.*
Kuja: *Is laying face down on his bed, sniffling pathetically.*
Thorn: Kuja?
Kuja: *Looks up, his eyes shining with tears.* What do you want, Thorn?
Thorn: To see why you're crying, if you want the truth.
Kuja: Take a wild guess.
Thorn: I take it... things aren't going well with you and Laurenza.
Kuja: Understatement of the century... But that's just a small part of what's bothering me at the moment.
Thorn: Care to share it?
Kuja: *Points to his door, it closes and a key turning in the lock is heard.* It's about... us...
Thorn: I thought it was over.
Kuja: So... so did I. But I can't stop thinking about it... *Moves closer to him.* The way your hands felt on my skin, the way your body felt next to mine. *Touches his arm.* The way your lips tasted...
Thorn: *Breaks away from him.* Kuja, it was okay down in the inn, but here... I don't think it's the place.
Kuja: I'm sorry... I shouldn't have...
Thorn: No, I don't blame you. You're upset.
Kuja: But... what if that's not all I am...?
Thorn: *Shakes his head.*
Kuja: Thorn, please... *Hugs him.* …Just hold me, please.
Thorn: Okay. *Puts his arms around him.*
Kuja: *Starts to cry again.*
Thorn: Oh, Kuja...
Kuja: *Says nothing. He just sobs and buries his face into Thorn's shoulder.*
Thorn: I don't know what to say... to comfort you.
Kuja: *Magickally unlocks his door again and lets go of Thorn. He falls back onto his bed.* J-just go... *Sniffle.* I'm b-being stupid.
Thorn: If you want me to. *Goes to the door.*
Kuja: Go on. You've got Adrienne.
Thorn: *Locks the door again.* I know. But... I've got you as well.
Kuja: Thorn...?
Thorn: Unless... you don't want to...
Kuja: *Closes his eyes and rocks back and forth a little, as if thinking something over.* Hmmm... Oh, what the hell? *Runs to Thorn and throws his arms around him, kissing him passionately.*
Thorn: *Starts groping Kuja's backside.*
Kuja: Oh, that's so sexy! *Pulls Thorn onto the bed.*
Thorn: Whoa… we've gotta be... careful
Kuja: What?
Thorn: No, I mean, you don't want to be found out, right?
Kuja: The door's locked. Oh, come on Thorn. Carpe diem... *Kisses him again and holds him close.*
Thorn: *Starts to caress Kuja's body again.*
Kuja: *Breathes a little faster and moans with pleasure.*
Thorn: Wow, I never thought you enjoyed it so much...
Kuja: *Smiles.* I've always enjoyed a good stroking.
Thorn: *Smiles too.*
Kuja: *Whispers breathlessly in his ear.* I want you...
Thorn: Then you've got me... *Moves his hand into a sensitive area of Kuja's.*
*One thing leads to another and the two of them end up... well, doing that thing that usually follows foreplay.*

*Afterwards, Kuja and Thorn are lying back in the bed, leaning against each other.*
Kuja: Ohh...
Thorn: Something wrong?
Kuja: No, it's just I've never done that before. It wasn't what I expected.
Thorn: I know what you mean.
Kuja: Never done it before?
Thorn: Not with a man... not really.
Kuja: So you and this guy you were involved with never got that far?
Thorn: Yeah...
Kuja: What was he like? Uh, if you don't mind me asking, that is.
Thorn: ...Don't remember much. I... I tried to forget a lot about it... afterwards.
Kuja: *Quietly, to himself.* I'm not sure I'll be able to forget this very easily…
Thorn: We'd better get up and dressed. *Changes clothes.* The guys might be looking for us.
Kuja: Yeah, you're right. *Gets up and starts putting on his clothes. He sighs.*
Thorn: What is it?
Kuja: You're right. It isn't a good idea to do it here, as we might get found out…
Thorn: Yeah...
Kuja: What we did just now and that time at the inn… we can't keep doing this. You're with Adrienne and I'm… well… you know what I mean.
Thorn: *Nods a little, though he does not look completely happy.*
Kuja: We'll be back to sarcastic comments and immature jests in no time.
Thorn: *Laughs some.*
Kuja: *Unlocks his door.* Now get out of my room before the neighbours see. *Grins.*
Thorn: *Leaves.*

*When Thorn gets back to his room, Adrienne is there waiting for him as usual.*
Adrienne: Thorn, I've been looking for you everywhere!
Thorn: I was talking to Kuja in private. Him and Laurenza were arguing, as usual, and he needed some friendly, man-to-man comfort.
Adrienne: Well I'm in need of some friendly, boyfriend-to-girlfriend comfort! You spend more time with Kuja than you do with me!
Thorn: Well, now that Kuja's back in the castle, I'm gonna let him and Laurenza sort out their problems by themselves. But you're right, I haven't been spending much time with you. I'm sorry.
Adrienne: You should be. You've got a lot of making up to do.
Thorn: *Smiles.*
Adrienne: Promise me you're gonna stop being Kuja's agony aunt?
Thorn: Yeah, I promise.
Adrienne: *Hugs him.* Good. If I were you, I'd make some serious investments in flowers and candy.
Thorn: You can't buy your own? You've got more money than I have.
Adrienne: *Looks huffy.* I have to buy my own gifts? You're so generous.
Thorn: I'm... sorry.
Adrienne: Bet you bought Laurenza stuff when you were dating!
Thorn: That dress... you wouldn't have liked it. Look, Adrienne, why are you being like this?
Adrienne: Because... you keep going away! You keep leaving me all on my own and I miss you.
Thorn: I apologised.
Adrienne: Words, yeah… They make it all better, don't they?
Thorn: Then what will, Adrienne? Tell me what to do and I'll do it!
Adrienne: Forget it, it doesn't matter.
Thorn: Fine. *Walks out.*

*Sitting outside, leaning against the castle wall is Laurenza, once again playing with Lierlo's chain. Thorn comes out into the grounds and leans on the wall next to her.*
Thorn: Laurenza?
Laurenza: Hello Thorn, is something up?
Thorn: Adrienne and me. I don't think it's working as it should...
Laurenza: It's going around.
Thorn: You and Kuja are made for each other, though...
Laurenza: You really think so?
Thorn: I know so.
Laurenza: Certainly doesn't feel like it right now.
Thorn: It'll pass. It'll work out.
Laurenza: Hmm... *Goes back to looking at the chain.* Look at this. *Shows him the reverse side with the engraved word.* 'Apathy...' What do you think that means?
Thorn: Well, doesn't 'apathy' mean you don't care for something?
Laurenza: Yes, I know that much. I was wondering why it's engraved here.
Thorn: Maybe whoever made it wanted an engraving, but didn't really care about what it said.
Laurenza: Who knows?
*They sit in silence for a moment, then Laurenza sighs.*
Laurenza: So much seems to be going wrong at the moment.
Thorn: And I try so hard to make things right. But I only make things worse.
Laurenza: You do the best you can, that's what matters the most.
Thorn: Too bad the best I can do never works.
Laurenza: You know that's not true.
Thorn: Isn't it?
Laurenza: You've helped us all though loads of rough times in the past.
Thorn: I guess...
Laurenza: Don't worry about Adrienne. You know she's mad about you. You'll make up in no time.
Thorn: Just like you and Kuja did, right?
Laurenza: That's different.
Thorn: I know, it always is.
Laurenza: I'm not just going to forgive Kuja like that. Not this time. I'm fed up of giving him second chances.
Thorn: Well, that's your decision.
Laurenza: Yes it is. Even if everyone else thinks it's the wrong one.
Thorn: Yeah…
Laurenza: *With grim sarcasm.* Looking forward to tonight?
Thorn: Like I look forward to the next life-threatening challenge that falls upon us.
Laurenza: Yep...
*Just then, a little brown sparrow lands next to Laurenza. She reaches out and is just about to pet it when Kitzie pounces out of nowhere on to it.*
Kitzie: Got it!
Laurenza: Kitzie, you're awake!
Kitzie: Uh huh! *Holds the little bird between her claws and watches it struggle.*
Thorn: *Snatches the sparrow out of Kitzie's claws and lets it go.*
Kitzie: Aww...
Thorn: We don't want your Demon side rising up again.
Kitzie: *Pouts.* I wasn't gonna eat it! I was just gonna play with it!
Thorn: Well... it didn't want to play with you.
Kitzie: Hmph! *Climbs into Laurenza's lap and starts chewing on Lierlo's chain.*
Laurenza: Kitzie, stop that. What's up with you today? Are you trying to be the world's best nuisance?
Kitzie: I'm bored!
Laurenza: Well, don't set fire to the castle. Look, why don't you go find Ana and play with her?
Kitzie: Okay. *Goes back inside.*
Laurenza: Kids...
Thorn: Wish I were one again.
Laurenza: I know what you mean. It'd be nice to have that kind of naivety again, to be able to say 'I'm bored' when all our lives are in danger.
Thorn: Yeah.
Laurenza: Darn, she's left little teeth marks in Lierlo's chain.
Thorn: Oh.
Laurenza: I was only saying... But I guess we've got more important things to worry about than jewellery.
Thorn: Right.

*Evening is approaching rapidly. The gang are all assembled in the main chamber. Lierlo is floating around, looking anxious.*
Kuja: What do you think? Does he turn evil simply when it goes dark, or is there a set time for it?
Thorn: Who knows?
Tifanel: *Looks out of the window.* It's going dark...
Ana: *Makes ghost noises.* Oooooooooo!
Thorn: Speaking of scary ghosts... I hope they'll come.
Ana: *Still using the silly voice, but giggling a bit.* Scaaarry ghosts... Oooooooooo!
Li: Oh shaddup!
Adrienne: Lierlo... you okay?
Lierlo: *Is very quiet.*
Thorn: Lierlo?
Kitzie: Lierly okay?
Lierlo: *Closes his eyes, his robes changing colour and the symbol on his forehead also turning a deep purple. He opens them again and a twisted smile spreads across his face.* Never felt better.
Thorn: Heh... hurry up, ladies!
*Suddenly, two ghosts materialise in front of Thorn. Both are dressed in typical Dark Angel fashion. The one with red hair that curls up at the tips is Red. The other with silver hair in a long braid is assumedly Scorn.*
Scorn: *Speaks with a French accent.* Just in the nick of.
Lierlo: Girls, how nice of you to join us. We could start a ghost-only club.
Thorn: Lierlo… or Cielnoir Lierlo, anyway. Leave this place or these two will force you out. Your choice.
Lierlo: Oh, this isn't a social call then?
Scorn: I guess we do have to fight him then. Oh well, it'll give us something to do, right Red?
Red: *Nods.*
Lierlo: Two against one? Now, really, that's unfair. I'd better even the odds a little! *Transforms into his secondary Spirit Beast form, the Cywyrm. He is a large, plumed serpent with spiky wings. He glares at them with huge gleaming eyes and opens his mouth, spurting fire at them.*
Scorn: Oh please, I thought you said you were going to 'even' the odds?
Red: You're mighty confident, heh heh...
Lierlo: I wouldn't be so confident if I were you. I've got friends too, you know. *Hisses loudly and a swarm of smaller Cywyrms appear beside him.*
Red: Oh, you had to open your big mouth!
Scorn: Are you saying we can't handle this worm?
Red: Yes, Scorn, that's exactly what I'm saying. You seem to forget that we don't have any Magick left! *Points to Thorn.* That idiot took it all!
Thorn: And you seem to have forgotten my end of the bargain, Red. *He waves his hand and a stream of black energy shoots out of them. It is all absorbed into Scorn and Red.* Your Magick.
Red: Oh, well. Okay.
Lierlo: Have you all quite finished? I'm getting impatient here.
Scorn: Ooh, sorry to keep you waiting. *She and Red spread their wings and fly a few feet of the ground.* Just tell us when it hurts, okay darling?
*The pair fly towards Lierlo and start attacking him with a flurry of spells*
Lierlo: *Moves his tail up and flicks them both away like flies.* You'll have to do better than that.
Red: Eurgh! I told you this was doomed from the start!
Scorn: Don't give up, Reddy. We're ghosts, we won't be beaten that easily.
Red: *Sighs.*
Scorn: Ahh, just get used to that Magick of yours. Just think, after this we'll be able to make ourselves whole new bodies!
Red: Yeah, you're right! *Starts charging up dark energy in her hands.* Die! *She throws it at Lierlo.*
Lierlo: I already have done. *Swallows the spell in his huge jaws.* Hmm, that's kind of like food…
Scorn: Quel idiot! That's not going to work!
Red: How was I supposed to know?
Lierlo: Silly little girls... *He lunges towards them and circles them both, pounding them with his tail as he passes. He then claps them together with mighty wings.*
Red: *Gasps with pain.*
Scorn: Are you okay?
Red: I'll live.
Scorn: Heh heh... irony.
Kitzie: I don't know who to root for...
Ana: Red and Scorn, dummy!
Kitzie: But Lierly's our friend...
Lierlo: *Looks down to them.* You're right, I am your friend. And friends give their friends little gifts!
*One of his Cywyrm underlings shoots towards them and bursts into flames.*
Ana: *Screams and jumps back, pushing Kitzie back too.*
Scorn: Hey! *Draws a ManusBlade and starts to slash at Lierlo with it. * Don't... you... hurt ... our... employers!
Red: *Draws her ManusBlade too.* I'll show you how it's done. Ignis! *The blade of the sword transforms into a large pillar of fire. She too starts to slash Lierlo.*
Lierlo: Well, that's kind of irritating... *He coils around the both of them, grasps them in his jaws and slings them around and around in the air before throwing them.*
*Red and Scorn both cry out and fly through a wall.*
Thorn: I can't believe that these two ranked higher than me in Hell.
Lierlo: *Laughs evilly and then rounds on the rest of the gang.* Is this you best attempt at stopping me... Is this the best you can-- *He stops in mid sentence and an odd, glazed over look comes into his eyes. He then begins to tie himself in knots.*
*Scorn and Red slowly float back into the room.*
Scorn: Eurgh... Hey, look!
Red: Why's he doing that?
Lierlo: *Is now twirling and doing back flips in the air.*
Scorn: Whoo! Hey! Do a barrel roll!
Red: What's wrong with him?
Ana: Kitzie...? *Watches her curiously.*
Kitzie: *Is stood muttering under her breath, her face taught with concentration. She is holding her paw out in front of her, a familiar Demonic glint in her eyes.*
Thorn: Kitzie?
Kitzie: *Ignores him to keep her concentration. She moves her paw to the left, and Lierlo flips over to the left in the air.*
Red: She's controlling him!
Scorn: Could you make him do a barrel roll? It would be funny!
Red: Oh, be quiet.
Kitzie: *Drops to her knees, the strain of the spell getting to her. She pants a little.* Revert!
*Lierlo transforms back to his normal form and Kitzie closes her eyes.*
Kitzie: I can do this... I can do this...
Scorn: Yes, you can do it! You can do it!
Kitzie: *Holds out her other paw in front of her and links her fingers.* Light and darkness intertwined… Always together… never without… *A small glow appears around Lierlo, changing between black and white.* Expel the evil that plagues your heart… *Kitzie slowly begins to draw her hands apart. A blinding light engulfs Lierlo. She drags her hands apart as far as they will go.* Good and evil… be apart! *She then collapses.*
Thorn: *Rushes over to her and catches her.* You're okay...
*The light surrounding Lierlo starts to fade. Now there are two Lierlos, one Luneblanche and the other, Cielnoir.*
Scorn: Great, I thought she'd help us, but what she did was make it twice as hard!
Thorn: Oh, be quiet.
L. Lierlo: What's going on? *Spots his other self.* Was there always a mirror there?
C. Lierlo: *Looks at himself and then L. Lierlo. He laughs coldly.* I'm free...
L. Lierlo: No... It's you... I mean me! The evil me!
Scorn: I've heard of split personalities, but this is just crazy.
*The two Lierlos suddenly wince and then fall some, placing their hands over their chests as if they are hurt.*
C. Lierlo: I'm... We're fading away... *He looks to L. Lierlo.* Brother, we need to rejoin! We cannot exist without each other!
L. Lierlo: *Looks determined.* Yes we can... yes we can...
C. Lierlo: *Winces again.* We are only half a person! We have to become one, or we will fade away!
L. Lierlo: That's not true! You're not me.... You're a completely different person! I can exist without you, I can!
C. Lierlo: Don't be foolish, we need to rejoin now! *He moves towards his other self.*
L. Lierlo: No we don't! *He blasts his other self with gold fire.*
*C. Lierlo falls back and then transforms into a dark light that shoots upwards through the ceiling.*
L. Lierlo: I know I can exist with out him... I know I can... I know I can... *He falls again.*
Scorn: Well said! You can exist without that big, part-time snake!
L. Lierlo: I can... I can... *He transforms into a white light that shoots sideways through the wall.*
Adrienne: Lierlo! Oh no…
Laurenza: What happened?
Adrienne: When Spirits die, their essences return to the Element from which they were born... Lierlo was mainly fire based... so he'd become a sun...
Thorn: But... how do we get him back?
Adrienne: We don't...