It was perhaps best that nature had already taken its course in that regard; Soma was sound asleep in the chair, head tilted to one side, mouth slightly open. If Hayate were observant enough, he might have noted a slight elongation of Soma's canine teeth, but that was quickly receding. The biggest surprise would wait for morning, when Soma's eyes would return to their normal color.

For now though, Soma was dead to the world, and breathing normally.

From the pile of items glinted a small, ornately carved necklace. Wrought of jade with a gem of sapphire at its center, the pendant had a soothing effect for anyone who chose to look at it; even moreso for someone who chose to wear it, for it had been blessed at the very shrine where he had first been sucked into Hell.

With a bright keening sound, that pendant shattered, releasing whatever hold it had on Soma...