The first battle plan was simple. Foolhardy, even. It was a direct confrontation on the cliffs, arriving via teleporter. If the attackers weren't found immediately, the gang would split into groups of two and search the grounds. After that, Mao summarized, would be the fun part; giving those fools what's coming to them.

…And this plan might have worked, had everyone been at the camp. Yes, the suspicion of the camp being on the eastern cliffs was correct. But the attackers being there…that was a different story.

Kyoko and Asuka were the first to stumble upon the camp, after the group had split to search. There wasn't much left; a few strips of stained cloth on the ground, a peg from a tent, some ashes from a campfire…

…And Master Big Star being held between trees by hooks in his wings. His normally clean clothes and white wings were all torn and bloodied, and his breaths were shallow. At least he was unconscious, as opposed to dead.

"Guys! The camp's over here!" Kyoko shouted, as Asuka examined the hooks. By the time the others arrived, the girls had just dislodged the Sophomore Class Leader, hoisting him up by the shoulders.

"Oh my…who would do something like this?" Raspberyl exclaimed, as Sapphire rushed in and began her healing spells.

"No idea." Mao turned to Kyoko and Asuka. "Have you seen anyone else here?"

"No sir," they both chimed. Askua added, "He was the only one here. If they still have the other students, they're long gone by now."

Mao began swearing under his breath as he wandered around the perimeter of the campground. He could make out tracks if he looked closely. Mostly boots, and some tire tracks heading further east. And…here were some footprints without shoes. In fact, they were human –not demon, for there weren't any claws. Mao followed the tracks a few paces away from the camp, which led him further into an outcrop of trees. Something crunched under his foot, and he glanced down to see what it was.

"Oh…that's where the flying students went." Mao backed away from the pile, head reeling from the overwhelming smell of blood and rot just beginning to set in. And what was this queasiness in his stomach? Surely, he'd seen worse. He'd been in tons of battles.

"But those were battles. This is…this is torture."

Something in the pile twitched. Mao flinched and began unsheathing his sword, only to realize it was a moth buried in the pile.

"Hey. You alive in there?"

No response. Mao rolled back his sleeves and reached in with one hand, covering his mouth with the other. The moth he pulled out was battered and scarred, with one violet wing completely ripped off. It coughed as it breathed in fresh air, before its antennae perked up.

"Lord…Lord Mao?"

"That's my name. What happened?"

The moth shuddered in his grasp.

"Come on! I need to know what I'm up against!" He shook the moth, which let out a pitiful shriek. Mao's eyes widened, as he silently scooped it into his arms and doubled back to the camp. The party was still around Master Big Star, save for Mr. Champloo, who was…absent, for some reason. He'd been here when they arrived, right?

The others glanced up at his arrival, but Sapphire was still in the middle of her healing spells. Raspberyl wandered over instead, pulling out some bandages. The moth cringed at the touch, but was still and silent otherwise.

"This is horrible," Beryl muttered as she worked. "Who would…?"

"I have no clue. But they're going to pay." Mao clutched his sleeves, the fabric tearing under his nails. "Whoever did this will regret the day they arrived in my Netherworld."

The camp drifted into silence once more. Leaving Beryl to her work, Mao rejoined the others around Master Big Star, who was still unconscious.

"Any progress?"

"His wounds aren't looking so bad anymore." Almaz tore his eyes from the scene, then glanced around. "Say…where did Master go?"

"Mr. Champloo? I was about to ask you the same thing."

It couldn't be true, could it?

Mr. Champloo followed the tire tracks out of the camp, making sure no one was following. He'd been suspicious when he saw the bombs, but thought it was simple paranoia. But between seeing Master Big Star and catching a glimpse at Mao's find…

"Champloo? Is that you?"

Champloo stopped, tilting his head toward the voice. His expression was a controlled blank.

"Why, if it isn't Cinder. Didn't expect you'd follow me here."

"Trust me, we didn't arrive for you." The figure who stepped out of the trees was tall and lanky, covered in a gray trench coat, gloves, boots, and a gas mask. All that was visible was a bit of white skin –almost too white- with ears that had no point, and thinning brown hair in dire need of a haircut. A backpack was slung over his shoulder, and he held a suitcase –or a suitcase bomb- in one hand.

"Then if you do anything for me, you should leave." Mr. Champloo pointed further into the forest and added, "Boom."

"Oh, Champloo." Cinder stepped forward, his laughter scarcely audible. "Has being a demon so long caused you to forget our mission?"

"Nah. More like I realized how foolish the mission is."

"Foolish? Really?" Cinder tilted his head to the side. "And what would Celine say to that?"

Champloo's fists began to tremble, not from fear, but from the rage beginning to build inside them. "Like a fly in the soup, you're an unwelcome guest here. This academy is my kitchen, and none of us have dared confront the human world, if that's your excuse." He couldn't keep the growl out of his voice when he finished, "Now, grab the others, and get out."

Cinder didn't respond. Instead, he backed up a step, and pulled a sphere from his backpack with one word.

"Boom."

The bomb spun towards him, only to be struck aside by Champloo's fist. Cinder smiled and threw three this time, all of which were deflected by one swift kick. The explosions rocked the trees, and Champloo charged forward with a Shredder Kick. Cinder used his suitcase as a makeshift shield, which dented under the force of the blow. Champloo used the impact to kick off, ricochet off a tree, and attempt a strike from above. He threw a bomb aside and landed a kick into Cinder's shoulder, causing him to drop the suitcase.

Landing on the ground, Mr. Champloo attempted to start a Chef's Special combo, only for Cinder to catch the fist and slam a small bomb onto the knuckles. When Champloo backed off to pry the bomb off, Cinder scooped up his suitcase and began to run. Champloo, of course, ran after him.

"Hunting me down now, are you?" Cinder called, his voice still resting between calm and amused. "My my. Being a demon has changed you."

"You'll eat those words! Boom!" Mr. Champloo began to channel a Burning Palm attack, only to waste the shot on an incoming bomb. Far behind him, one of the students began to call his name.

"I tire of this." Cinder turned around, now running backwards, as he held a small black box between his fingers. "I'll tell the others you say hello. I'm sure they'll be thrilled by the news."

With that, the box was thrown, releasing clouds of billowing smoke. Champloo stumbled to a stop, batting the smoke away as he coughed. Why had he fallen for that? He knew that trick. He'd seen it a million times before, he-

"Master Champloo! Are you alright?"

Stepping out of the smoke, Mr. Champloo saw Almaz running toward him. Champloo just nodded, wiping the dust from his face.

"I'm fine –don't worry about me. Unfortunately, the ingredients in this list are…less than savory."

Almaz nodded. "I figured. We heard explosions…what just happened? Was that the person who bombed the school?"

The two began to walk back to the camp. "That he was, boom! And he's not alone." Before Almaz could question him, Champloo continued, "We've got a group of Demon Hunters in our Netherworld, kid. And…"

Almaz raised an eyebrow. "And?"

For once, Mr. Champloo wasn't sure exactly what to say. "Well, hate to be the pessimist, but I'm not so sure we have the spices to sabotage their dish."

Almaz's eyes widened. "How do you know, sir?"

For a minute, Mr. Champloo didn't say anything. He didn't want to say anything. But if they were going to get out of this alive…

"Let's just say I've run into them before. Come on; the others are waiting for us…boom!"

"You're late."

Cinder shrugged as he passed. "Just cleaning up my tracks. And Magnum, you'll never guess who I found."

Magnum strode in-step beside him, her sniper rifle hefted over her shoulder. Their outfits were similar, save that she replaced the trench coat with armor and the gas mask with an actual helmet, and the hair that snuck from under her helmet was blonde. "Who would that be?"

"Champloo."

If Magnum was surprised, she didn't show it. Granted, with her helmet covering her face, there was no way to read her expression. "I see. Has he been cured of his…condition?"

Cinder covered his mouth when he chuckled, out of habit more than anything. "Still a full-blooded demon, I'm afraid to say. In fact, he seems to prefer his new comrades to us." Cinder tilted his head and watched Magnum as he finished, "I find that rather…regrettable. Don't you?"

Ever so slightly, Magnum tensed. "Sometimes, good people fall into bad things. That's not our problem. You know what will happen when he crosses our path. Same as any other demon."

For once, Cinder just nodded, no laughter included. "That's all? No lost love for our-"

"He attacked you, did he not?" As proof, the sniper brushed some ash from Cinder's shoulders. "Therefore, he is the enemy. We will show no mercy when we meet."

With a shake of the head, Cinder adjusted the straps of his backpack before putting his hands in his pockets. "When I said you two were opposites, I never imagined how right I was."

He got no response. He didn't expect one.

Light. Light slowly filtering in from above.

"He's coming to!"

Noise. What was that? Who? Was it them again?

"Everyone, out of die way! Give the man some room!"

No. It was someone else. Good people. But who…?

Master Big Star opened his eyes, staring at the swirling chaos of red and black clouds above. Salvatore was leaning over him, crimson eyes blinking slowly.

"How are you feeling? Not delirious or anything, are we?"

Shaking his head, Master Big Star sat up, wincing at the pain that ran down his spine when he did so. He realized that Mao and the others were also here, though his previous captors were nowhere in sight.

"I…I think I'm well enough, considering the circumstances." At this point, Big Star noticed his own form –just seeing his clothes torn and bloodied was bad enough, but look at these scars! There were claw marks all over his hands and limbs, not to mention the pain in his wings.

"Sorry I couldn't heal you better. The wounds are pretty deep." Sapphire crouched next to him, green eyes ever-so-slightly dulled. "But you should be well enough for us to get out of here. Can you stand?"

"Just a minute." Master Big Star spotted Mao and bowed his head. "My apologies. I was unable to deliver your warning in time. The bomb-"

"We'll talk about that later." Mao's words were clipped and stern, his eyes harsh. "What happened to you? You…I don't even know where to begin with how you look."

As Raspberyl chastised Mao for asking such sensitive information so quickly, Master Big Star took Sapphire's offered hand and got to his feet. He wavered for a moment before both Sapphire and Salvatore put their hands on his shoulders.

"No. It's alright." Master Big Star took a deep breath, then stared straight into Mao's eyes. "If I'm not mistaken, there are at least five attackers. Two females, three males, dressed in masks and gray armor. And all of them have an apparent vendetta against demons."

"Like a dish left on high heat too long, they're demon hunters burnt beyond recognition."

Everyone turned to see Mr. Champloo and Almaz return. Champloo was covered in bits of dust and debris, and his expression was unusually stern.

"Demon hunters?" Kyoko and Asuka asked in unison, both putting a protective arm around Raspberyl. Champloo nodded, and turned to Master Big Star.

"Let me guess what happened. You were shot down by a sniper rifle, stuffed in a cage, and…" The Home Ec. Teacher paused, looking over the Sophomore Class Leader. "…I'm actually at a loss after that. The marks look only vaguely familiar."

"You're correct on the first part," Big Star agreed, before anyone else could comment. "As with the other flying students, I was shot out of the sky, bound, gagged, and placed in a cage. I am unsure if the other students were similarly imprisoned."

As he spoke, the memories snuck back in. The cold metal against his wrists. The screams of demons he couldn't see. The claws…

"…One of the hunters, apparently by the name of Psyche, broke into my cage, planning to use me as bait to lure the rest of you out –or perhaps just chase me. I am…unsure."

There was a high-pitched shriek at the mention of Psyche. Master Big Star noticed a wounded moth in Raspberyl's arms. At the same time, there was a flash of expression across the face of the Home Economics teacher…it almost looked like rage, but it was gone before Master Big Star could be sure. He continued talking instead.

"The bombs went off, as you are well aware, I'm sure. The hunters slept for a few hours, then began to speak –I was unable to hear their plans. Half the hunters left before dawn. The rest were left to clean up camp, and…" His head felt light; Salvatore's grip on his shoulder tightened. "…Leave warnings. Such as myself."

The party had two reactions to this. Half of the party, such as Almaz and Raspberyl, cried in outrage about such treatment. The other half, such as Mao and Mr. Champloo forced themselves to be silent, their fists shaking with a rage they could scarcely control.

"They're monsters, yes," Sapphire finally stated, as the others went silent to listen. "And already, they've done horrible things. But standing here won't stop them." Sapphire turned to the others and continued, "We should head back and make a plan. For starters, I think…"

Master Big Star, in normal circumstances, would have been interested in the rest of the conversation, especially where planning was concerned. However, the world was spinning just a little too much right now…

"Hey! Master Big Star?"

That's the last he heard before the world went black once more.