Mugen Spiral Act 00 – Flashback
The sound of labored breathing in between the coughs of an old man echoed painfully in the small room as an old woman was peering over him with expressive eyes. Suddenly a soft white glow permeated the air and flooded the space with a soothing light. Gradually the coughing subsided and the man was calm, his breathing returned to normal.
As the woman began to cry tears of relief, a young 16 year old girl brushed her light brown hair from her eyes, straightened her skirt before breaking her kneel and stood. She gazed down at the older couple with a soft expression that hid a look of longing in her eyes. But that gaze was over and in an instant a serious but gentle expression replaced it.
"I've erased the malady, it wasn't an evil spirit like we thought, just a restrictive ailment." She informed them. "Still, I think he needs to rest in bed for at least a week until his strength returns. I can only do so much."
"No," said the old woman happily, her hands clasping her husband's hands. "You've done enough already. Thank you, Yayoi."
The old man was too weak to speak, but smiled and looked up gratefully.
"Well, I must excuse myself so you can get your rest." Yayoi said graciously as she gave a respectable nod and turned towards the door.
"Wait!" cried out the old woman. "What about payment?"
"It's okay," Yayoi said happily. "It was less of a job than it turned out to be, so I don't need anything."
"But…" the old woman started to protest before she trailed off. "At least come here from time to time and we'll treat you to a meal."
She smiled. "Thank you, I'd like that."
A sound of thunder in the background broke the exchange as Yayoi went to the window. Thick clouds were making the dull sky dark and ominous.
"It looks like rain," the old woman said with apprehension. "Will you be alright?"
"I don't think it will be bad," Yayoi said confidently. "I'm not that far from home, and I think it will hold off until I get back."
"If you say so, then thank you again," said the woman.
Yayoi smiled and nodded her head and went to get ready.
Several minutes later she was already over half way home, and the rain had yet to start. She had made it pretty far at a light run, but began to slow. There was uncertainty in the spirits, and she felt an ominous energy
A sudden flash of lightning streaked across the sky ahead of her, so bright that she had to shield her eyes, and close enough that the clap of thunder shook the air around her. At the same time the nervous spirits had quieted completely, and the silhouette of a young man stood ahead of her on the forest path. As her eyesight was still taking time to adjust, she wasted no time in readying her spirit wheel key, expecting the adversary to pounce, but he stood his ground.
"Don't worry, I won't resort to petty tricks to take you out," said the figure with a confident voice. He stood completely relaxed and laid back as he studied her. "So that's the source of your power? Daughter of the Suzuka line."
Yayoi's eyes finally were able to focus and she saw the true form or the figure before her. He had all the features to make it easy, from his manner of dress, to his pointed ears, clawed hands, menacing facial expression and the small horn on top of his head. What's more, he radiated a power far above any evil spirit she had previously encountered.
"You know me?" She asked as the first drops of rain began to fall. Another rumble of thunder sounded and the rain picked up pace.
"I've been looking for you, yes." He stated calmly. "I knew you would come this way. I hope you are ready to die? I've come for your power."
"My power, eh?" said Yayoi steadily as the spirit wheel key hovered in the air before her hands, the wind jostling her hair. "Do you have a name? I wouldn't mind knowing the name of my killer."
The demon smiled, displaying his fanged mouth. "It's Ura."
Yayoi's face became completely focused as she began to chant a counter to whatever offensive the demon would bring forth. "Gates of the Realm of the Dead…"
"Like I'd let you!" Ura cried out as an electric glow encircled his hand and he sprung forward in an instant. Before Yayoi even had a second to register his progression, he brought the hand forward and discharged the lightning into the opening gate.
The clash of the colliding energies was instant, and created a small explosion of light, knocking both fighters backwards. Expecting it, Ura landed not far away, relatively unharmed, while Yayoi took the brunt of the blast and hit the now wet ground hard on her side, sending the spirit wheel key skidding out of her reach. Winded from the impact, she curled into a fetal position as she attempted to regain her breath, realizing a bit too late that she needed to recover her artifact in order to use her abilities.
She started to reach out for it when Ura appeared and kicked it with the edge of his foot farther away.
"It's too late for that." He said maliciously. "You might as well give up on it."
"I don't give up that easily," she said between breaths. She grabbed a fist full of mud and flung it up to his eyes, successfully blinding him temporarily, using the time to scramble for the spirit wheel key and recovering it with little time to spare. She just got her fingers around it as Ura got there, and swatted her aside.
"Nimble, aren't you?" Ura said, traces of the mud streaked his face as he reached down and grabbed her by the shirt collar, and hoisted her up off the ground. "But that won't save you now."
"I don't…" she uttered as she reached her free hand into her uniform, while the other was gripping Ura's hands, trying to support herself. She slowly started extracting a ring of beads as she continued. "…need that to save me."
"Hmm?" Questioned Ura, wondering what she was getting at.
She gripped the beads tight in her one hand as she gripped his hand solidly.
"To the… Cat God… I forge a rite of contract," she breathed the words heavily. "Evil bind, suppress and reform, to demon Ura find…"
A sharp tingle of pain shot through her fingers around the rosary, through her body, and out her other hand, into Ura's with a cutting feeling that made him drop her out of reflex. He flexed his fingers, more curious about the sensation than anything else. He was a bit annoyed, but it was still his victory.
She lay on the ground and the rosary in front of her was farther, out of reach. Breathing with difficulty, she gave a slight groan of pain as she tried to reach out for it. But she only got so far, and then Ura's foot was on her hand, keeping it in place.
He was staring at his hand, then shook it off and leaned forward to taunt her.
"Sorry woman," he said with a smug expression and great satisfaction over her suffering expression. "But your powers don't work on me. Not on a… demon."
He started to reach down and she used her free hand to grab his leg. "…fulfill and conform, set forth the motion and seal the pact!"
Suddenly a jolting pain gripping his skin and he seized up, the beads behind him crackling with a strange energy. Surprised, he unwillingly stepped back, allowing Yayoi to stretch her arm out and grab the rosary.
"What are… you…" Ura struggled to say through his grit teeth as he reached down to Yayoi, placing his hands upon her neck. The energy from the beads and him began to crackle with more intensity as he tighten his grip on her neck, attempting to choke her to somehow break the contact.
"Seal… already…" Yayoi struggled to say as her sight began to blacken from the steel grip about her neck. Just as she was starting to fade from consciousness, she looped the beads about Ura's head and they settled about his neck. Even though he let go from the shock, she passed out from the lack of oxygen.
Ura screamed a cry of rage and pain as the energy from his body seemed to be sucked into each bead of the rosary, and the energy began to send pain streaming through every fiber of his being as he doubled over and collapsed. Unable to bear the agony, he passed out as well, as the final effects of the curse shrank his body into that of a black cat. And then there was silence, save for the rain and the blowing wind.
Sometime later, Yayoi opened her eyes. Her body was soaked from the rain that continued to pour down around her, but she was alive. Slightly to the front of her was a small black cat with beads around its neck, though she was more focused on returning air to her lungs. As she sat up, breathing heavily, she reflected on the encounter aloud.
"I thought I was a goner for sure." She hesitated as the thoughts swarmed around her. "That demon… what was his name? Ura? Thank goodness I had the Cat God's Rosary or else…"
She coughed a few times and held herself, thinking about how cold and wet (not to mention muddy) she was. "I've got to get home… not like anyone will be there waiting for me."
It was so lonely, returning to a place all alone. Especially after such events.
She glanced over at the sealed form of the demon that tried to kill her, looking so weak and helpless in his sealed body. Looking just like any other wounded animal.
Unsure why she was doing it, she picked him up, and cradled him in her arms and just sat with him in the rain. There was a lot to think about.