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surrounded the kitsune and spread towards the diminutive abominations, 
involuntarily massacring the whole lot of them in the process. Once the
Fuuka Enbu Jin finished its sordid task, Kurama eyed the mutilated
remains of his unseen opponent's pawns warily. Meanwhile, from behind
him, a grim and twisted metamorphosis went unnoticed.

Even with all of his Tiyanak mouthpieces killed, the now-disembodied
voice continued to be heard. "Yes. It's me. Did you really think that
your little nightmare tree was the end of me? If you thought that, then
you've got another think coming." The voice was closer now, its droning, 
discordant timbre echoing inside Kurama's ears. "In my nightmares, my
endless fight with you has finally ceased. Unfortunately for you, my 
androgynous-looking friend, your nightmare starts now." 

"Toguro Ani! You're Toguro Ani!" Kurama belatedly rasped to the voice
just as a rabid-looking Midori came out of nowhere and pounced on him
like an albino hellcat, her skin pasty-white and her tongue stretched
out like a lizard's.

The Dream World held its breath as the pair seemingly froze in time...
then everything became a blur.

Reflexes alone saved Kurama from Midori's rampage as he frantically
dodged and sidestepped her furious close range strikes. The incredulous
look in the young man's wide, green eyes spoke volumes; his expression
went from surprise, to alarm, to dismay, then to sobering realization in
the span of a second. The abrupt and unexpected non-sequitur was far too 
bewildering for his mind to fully comprehend in a mere instant.

Kurama shook his head as he attempted to reassess the situation. What
exactly was going on? What had happened to Midori? Why did she turn into
a monster?

"Midori-san, please--!" Kurama wanted to beg, plead, hoping that the
remnants of the invisible girl's human self could somehow hear his
distressed appeals. But she didn't even give him the chance to breathe,
let alone wallow in denial: She struck again, her sharpened fingernails
shredding through his crimson vest with a single swipe, drawing blood.