Title: Loyalty: A Bond Between Friends
Summary: A new demon battle is taking place, but why? Has something happened to Gash? Can he be saved? And most importantly, who will win? Accepting Fan Mamonos.
Disclaimer: Slave To Noah does not claim to own Konjiki No Gash Bell, or any of its characters or related logos. All bits, peices, and ideas go to their respective owners.
(A/N: 'thoughts', SPELLS, "talking", flashbacks, "the person speaking on the other end of the phone")
Chapter 7: Calling You Out
It had been quiet. No battles, just endless quiet. It was rather boring, with the humans in school and-in Koumori's case- at work. The playground was boring and everything was just boring. This was a pain of growing up: when everything ceases to be fun-filled and everything is always boring. But then, the demon children had an idea. A way to make this boring day less boring.
They would go to school.
Now normally, their humans forbade them from following them to school, but today-today had been different. When Asuru left for school, the young demons followed him, tip-toeing behind. They were rather lucky that Asuru didn't have a sense of paranoia (like AT ALL) or else if he turned around, he would see them.
But, eventually, they made to Mochinoki Middle School, where Asuru, Ai, and Juu went to school. Ranmyaku giggled.
"So this is where Asuru and his friends go to school! Let's check it out!" Ranmyaku said with a giggle. She led to group to the entrance and grinned. The pre-teens and teens who attended this school had already entered for homeroom before 1st period started. "Koumori, let me on your shoulders, I need to see."
Koumori did as she said. Ranmyaku peered into the room where the shoes were stored. It was empty. 'All clear,' she thought. She got down and opened the door. The empty room led off into the school. They tip-toed inside.
"So, where do we go now?" Koumori asked.
"I'm not sure. Asuru never tells me anything about what classroom he's in, probably to keep me from trying to find him," she said, shaking her head sadly.
"I know!" Honzou said. "They're in room 3-C. Ai tells me all about school!"
"We better hurry- before 1st period starts."
The group walked carefully through the hallways. They didn't draw too much attention here, on the first floor with the 5th graders, and made it to the staircase without incident. The staircases were empty as well because of the simple fact that school had already started. They went up 2 floors until they reached the hall for 7th graders.
They opened the door and realized that Class 3-C was right beside the stairwell. What a lucky coincidence in the case of our favorite little demon children. Koumori opened the door a crack. They looked inside and saw Asuru on the other side of the classroom. Ai sat front and center. And, Ranmyaku would bet, that Juu sat in the back.
Asuru was bored, looking around the classroom, when he saw them. He saw Ranmyaku's unmistakable blue hair, and Koumori's red eyes, and Honzou's green outfit. He nearly choked on thin air, knowing that it would only be a matter of time before they were noticed, because homeroom was nearly over. They're next class was history, which was down the hall.
"Asuru!" The teacher said sternly. "Is there something interesting about the door?" She walked over to the door, and, surprised it was open, opened it wide. Asuru hoped against all hope that they had had enough sense to move, but all his hope came crashing down when the children fell into the classroom.
"HONZOU?!" Ai shrieked. Honzou waved meekly.
"Do you know these kids, Neemo-kun? Yuiku-chan?
"Yes," Asuru said, his face on his desk. "That girl lives with me and those kids are her friends."
"I wanted to see what it's like at your school, Asuru! Besides, we were really bored. Can we stay? Please?" Ranmyaku asked.
"No," the teacher said. "Asuru, Ai, escort your friends to the nurse's office. We can't have these kids interrupting the learning process. Asuru and Ai led the two to the nurse's office on the first floor.
"We'll take you guys home after school is over. Be good 'til then."
"Humph. Mean teachers get bitten by sand crabs."
After school was over, Asuru and Ai picked up the demon children like they had promised. As they walked home, Honzou noticed a note on the ground. It was folded up and partially buried into the ground. This was most likely on purpose because Honzou hadn't seen it when they came. He picked it up and unfolded it. He gasped mentally, but said nothing. It would be best not to alert the others.
When Honzou and Ai got to their house, he spoke up. "Ai, I found a note on the ground at the school."
"You shouldn't pick things up off the ground," she said absent-mindedly. "You don't know where it's been."
"I know that a demon wrote it," he said. This caught her attention.
"What?"
"The Demon World symbol was at the very top. And it was telling us to meet him somewhere," Honzou opened the paper and looked at it. "It says: 'I am your enemy. Meet me at the river at 11:00 pm, April 23, 3005. If you don't show up, I'll destroy Tokyo Tower. Don't think I'm kidding. If you want to save those humans, show up. – Z'"
"Do you really think he'd destroy Tokyo Tower?" Ai asked, a horrified expression on her face.
"I don't know, but I don't want to try him. We should just show up," Honzou said.
"I'll call everyone. We might need the help, right?"
Honzou thought. "No, don't call them. Let's not worry them."
At 10:45, the team left Ai's house, heading towards the river. They didn't talk the whole way. Their nervousness hung thick in the air. Honzou stopped walking suddenly. Ai looked back at him. "What's wrong Honzou?"
"I was just thinking about how this could be the last time I ever see you, Juu, Kit, Natsumi and Asuru again. I might see Ranmyaku, Koumori, and Claire again, but not you humans. I just... what if I'm... what if we're not strong enough? We only have one spell!"
"Honzou. We're tough. We can take care of ourselves. And one thing's for sure-I won't let you disappear," Ai said. "You're my friend."
Honzou nodded. They appeared as the clock began to ring 11:00 clock. At first they saw no one, but then they heard a voice. It sounded female.
"What do you know, Zanna? The weaklings actually showed up. I guess that ploy you used really worked."
"Heh. I knew it would," A young girl, about 6-7 years of age appeared before them. She had a simple white dress with a bow on the front. She had long silver hair and purple eyes, as well as pale skin. Beside her was a blonde girl that was about 18 years old. Honzou was suddenly extremely scared. He backed away, contemplating running away.
"What's wrong, Honzou?" Ai asked the boy.
"That's Zanna... She's the princess of the Demon World. She's strong and sadistic, and one of the most likely to win the battle for ruler," Honzou said, looking horrified. "We should have called for help..."
"Too late," Zanna said. "Dianna, read the spell."
"Zakeru," She said. A bolt of white lightning shot from her hand.
"Zamen!" Arrow-seeds shot out of Honzou's hands, but did little besides get fried. The Zakeru attack continued, and hit with so much force, it lifted Honzou off the ground and flung him 4 feet back.
"You shouldn't have come. Oh, and FYI, I don't even know where Tokyo Tower is," she said as she stepped on his hand. Honzou winced.
'I really should have called them...' he thought.
