To You For You

(100% this story from the song lmfao!)

Master, are you enjoying yourself? Kovash asked as he calmly trotted about the wet bog, his paws sinking into the patches of mossy earth beneath them as he moved like a disproportionate equine.

It had been several days since either of them had seen the necromancer up close, and Kovash was glad for that. Daiya had become more playful and was rarely repeating actions. God had spoken to him previously about how the little ghost was copying Fin's memories, which was understandable, but he knew that it wasn't so simple. If Daiya was strictly bound to repeat what Fin's mind pushed upon him, he would not be hanging onto one of his scraggly wings, bouncing along the moss mounds in the bog as he bobbed the wing up and down carefully.

I love you, Kovash! Daiya thought to him with a wide smile on his eleven year old face.

And I you, young master. He replied before slowing and lowering himself enough so that Daiya could easily ascend to his back. He set off a few moments later toward Fin's keep, per Daiya's instruction. He disliked bringing the boy around the necromancer, but he could not deny his master's requests. They remained out of sight for the past several days, just simply checking up on Fin. The man clearly knew that they were around, but to Kovash's knowledge, had not laid eyes upon them since their meeting in the field three days ago.

When they stepped out of the foliage surrounding the swamp into knee-deep, murky water, Kovash scanned the area before them cautiously. He knew that Fin was secretly happy that he was taking such good care of Daiya's apparition, but the threat he had given him previously still stood. If given the chance, Fin would act on it whether he truly wished to or not.

I want to hug him. I miss him. Daiya thought to him as he leaned down, hugging his thick, fuzzy neck.

I understand, master, but he is dangerous. Kovash thought in return as he began skirting the edge of the swamp slowly, allowing Daiya to look about from the safety of his back.

They remained silent for several long minutes, the sloshing of his paws and folded wings moving through the mucky water the only thing making sound in the chillingly-quiet area. Not a single bird peeped in the trees above, and no other animal made its presence known, so it was no surprise when Kovash noticed the silhouette of a man straightening from the dirty water many meters ahead.

The next thing he knew, hands that were definitely not that of an eleven year old took a good hold of his scruff as Daiya leaned forward to get a better look. He could sense the young man's excitement through their bond and snorted, not liking the fact that Daiya really was still smitten with Fin, even though he knew that the man was horrible.

Kovash sneaked a glance behind himself, noting that Daiya had indeed grown again. He now looked to be somewhere in his late teenage years.

Do not let your heart rule your judgement, master. He warned, taking a few slow steps backward to put more space between the two. Even if Daiya wanted to get closer to Fin, it would not work. Whenever the man was near, Daiya got sucked into one of his memories and was forced to repeatedly hurt himself until he could fight his way out of the darkness that clouded his poor mind.

When Fin simply watched them, Kovash halted his retreat but bared his needle-like teeth in warning.

He needs me. Daiya thought as he began sliding from Kovash's back, only to be snapped at by the giant bat creature, making him scramble back up to his previous perch.

You know what will happen, master. Kovash reminded him as he continued taking steps backward. He wished, more than anything over the time since he had been reborn, that his useless wings would mend and allow him flight.

I brought you to check on him, and he is clearly fine. We should not dwell here. He stated as he began to turn, only to here the sound of Fin beginning to rush toward them through the water. Before Kovash could even turn to face him, a mass of bones and black liquid erupted from the muddy swamp beneath Fin, forming into a skeletal horse as it lifted the necromancer from the water and began bounding toward them. It's body began filling out in patches of rotting flesh as Kovash swung back around and bolted.

His claws sank into the thick bank of moss, the force of his forward momentum creating divots as he sent muck flying behind himself. It was clear after a few moments that there would be no outrunning the zombie steed, so Kovash was forced to stop abruptly, skidding back into the the deep muddy water as he turned to face his enemy with a deafening screech.

To his surprise, Fin had a bow drawn as the horse made short work of the distance he'd managed to gain. The first arrow was dodged, but as Kovash roared and began charging the encroaching beast, another whizzed through the air, hitting its mark upon his shoulder with a solid thud.

He would have just yanked it free of his flesh easily if his right shoulder hadn't begun to smolder. It... hurts? Pain was an unfamiliar thing to an undead, yet the fire that began burning through the muscle along his shoulder forced him to stagger forward and shift his balance to his left front leg. His muzzle dipped below the surface of the water but he refused to take his eyes off of Fin as he slowed his horse just enough to take another shot.

Kovash tried to dodge, but he was not used to only having three limbs at his disposal and the arrow slid neatly into his back, mere inches from where the fire started by the first arrow currently spread.

Kovash, why are you burning? Daiya asked, his thoughts flustered as he tried to pat at the new flames beginning to sprout from the second projectile.

I do not know, master. It... hurts. Kovash said, his voice turning into a whine as his body dropped mostly beneath the dark water.

Daiya stayed perched atop of the small strip of his back that remained above the surface, his mostly-invisible hands doing their best to push water onto Kovash's burning flesh. No matter how hard he tried, even going as far as to fumble into the water himself in order to move more of it faster, Daiya's efforts appeared fruitless as the flames burned hotter with the additional water.

"I had warned you not to meddle in this issue, yet you kept him away from me for days, Kovash." Fin said as he dismounted from his horse and slowly walked toward them through the water, notching another arrow in his bow as he spoke.

Daiya sniffed back iridescent tears as he looked between the two, then stumbled through the water to stand in front of Kovash's burning body, his arms out to either side in protest.

"Fin stopped a yard or so away from him and leveled his bow at Kovash's submerged head, ignoring the fact that the weapon would travel directly through Daiya's translucent chest to find its target.

Daiya, run! I am not worth your soul! Kovash shouted into his mind, drawing the ghost's attention over its shoulder just long enough for Kovash to see his sad smile.

He had no idea if Fin could truly harm Daiya's ethereal self without directly damaging his real body, but it did not sit well with him at all to see the arrow pointed straight at his master. With his last burst of energy, Kovash forced his body back above the surface of the water and gave out a strangled roar.

Rest well, Kovash. I will see you again, I hope. Daiya thought to him, sending a shiver through Kovash's still heart.

Master!

The sound of the arrow being loosed drew Kovash forward, but his body refused to move fast enough. The projectile did not strike him, however. He looked on with the same wide, horrified eyes that Fin now displayed as they both stared at Daiya's wavering form. The steel tip of the arrow protruded from his transparent back while the shaft pointed directly up at the demon responsible for the act.

Master Daiya... Kovash thought as he painfully limped close enough to nudge his soaked muzzle against the boy's side. The action slowly drew Daiya's arms downward from where they had been held out in a defensive gesture to shield Kovash.

He then took an uneven step backwards, catching his balance as his gaze dropped to the dark water, then slowly lifted back up to Fin's. When neither of them moved for several moments, Daiya lifted his left hand and reached forward, hesitantly touching the tips of his clear fingers to Fin's hand. The man's bow was still held firmly in his left hand from the shot he'd made, remaining perfectly still until Daiya's fingertips began to disappear into his own flesh.

The reaction was instantaneous, as if a shock of ice had shot through Fins' body, but as Kovash watched Daiya begin to step into the man's own body, he realized that the necromancer was unable to respond.

Possessing him...?

He did not know how it was possible to do such a thing since Fin still seemed to have all the abilities of an undead, though he now had a beating heart. He was snapped out of his own thoughts when he heard Daiya's quiet words slip into his mind.

Be safe, Kovash. I will give you as much time as I can.

He wanted to reply, but as Daiya vanished completely into Fin's larger form, the necromancer let out a horrid scream and stumbled forward, nearly falling face-first into the water. There was clearly a battle going on inside of him for control, but Kovash knew that he would be useless to Daiya in such a fight with the current damage to his body, so he forced himself to stand and begin retreating. His skin still flickered with flames, but thankfully the damage was no longer spreading.

Daiya, please be free of harm. He thought as Fin staggered to the side, then jerked his head back, his fangs bared as Daiya's soft, kind eyes stared out at him.

Go. I will find you again. Daiya thought to him before Fin turned and stumbled through the mud and muck until he was close to the bank of the swamp. His body convulsed once abruptly before lurching forward, his upper half settled on the wet grass just far enough out of the water to be safe from slipping back down into it.

Kovash retreated at that moment. He was not sure how far away he'd managed to get before his body refused to move any further, depositing him in a dense portion of underbrush made up of several large thorn bushes and thick shrubs. His vision wavered the moment his head dropped to the damp ground, and far too quickly, everything went black.