-Remembering Saruwatari-
Chapter 7: Battle in the Siren's Abyss
"It was a what?" Bankotsu asked once more.
"The Abyssal Screech. Only a handful of Sirens can do it. It cuts you away from reality into their realm; where they're born. Here, they can kill you easily." Bankotsu and Jakotsu's eyes widened slightly. I continued. "They can have all sorts of special abilities they didn't have in out world. They can have invincibility, force fields, increased strength and speed, more melodic voice, bigger size. It's a battlefield where you can't win."
"Impossible." Jakotsu said. "We can win. No Harpies are going to get the better of us."
"There is a high probability that we will not get out of here alive."
The blonde Siren started to regenerate as her wing started to gain substance and form. She grinned sardonically and flew up, the red haired Siren following her. The two screeched as I covered one of my ears. When I looked up, the two had larger wings and sharper talons. I gasped and tossed Saru, trying to get the upper edge. Saru bounced off of the red haired Siren's arm and back towards me. I gasped and dived to the ground, Saru passing my hair. Bankotsu and Jakotsu had started attacking the Sirens, swinging and slashing, but with no success. Jakotsu got slammed to the ground by the blonde Siren as she glided down to meet his neck. I gasped and looked for Saru. It was almost about four feet away from me. I growled, not knowing what to do. Jakotsu was in such a vulnerable position, but I didn't want to get myself hurt as well. The Siren lowered her fangs towards Jakotsu's neck. I quickly stood and put my hands together, making the hand sign for the snake.
"Fukumen no Mokuzai!" I yelled.
Vines sprouted from the ground besides Jakotsu, shooting into the Siren above him. The vines carried her up as she thrashed and screeched. Then I ran towards Saru. I picked it up while running and then tossed it at the blonde Siren. Saru made its mark as a sickening slice filled the empty abyss. Jakotsu stood up, dusting himself off. I sighed, Saru returning to my hand. The Siren fell to the ground, twitching lightly. Jakotsu whipped out his blade and mercilessly ended its life. I winced and turned away in disgust, looking at the progress of Bankotsu's battle.
He seemed to be doing okay, his movements swift and his attacks powerful. He and the Siren were evenly matched, to my eye. Bankotsu swung his halberd in a tight arc as the Siren backed away in shock, a large gash on her stomach. Jakotsu swung his blade as it lashed out and sliced the Siren in the waist. I tossed Saru, the blade glowing bright violet. It left a shining streak behind it as it sliced through the Siren. Though, the Abyss did not fade. I gasped, seeing Renkotsu, Ginkotsu, and Suikotsu getting attacked by two of the other Sirens. I tossed Saru, separating The Sirens from Renkotsu and the others. They turned and nodded my way as I smiled. Saru returned to my hand as it transformed into my old blade again. I held Saru in front of me, my eyes blazing with anxiety and determination all at once. The largest Siren—One with blue hair and matching pale blue eyes—flew down to meet me.
"You're good fighters for humans," She said, "Especially you, girl. What's your name?"
"Masato Saruwatari, but you don't need to know that where you're going." I answered with a snarl. She chuckled.
"My name is Raidon, but you don't need to know that either. Today, I and my daughters will destroy you!"
"Two of them are already dead." Bankotsu answered, stepping forward. "You're next, Harpy."
"DON'T call me a Harpy! I'm a Siren, and damn proud of it! Those Harpies…those small, spineless…KILL THEM!"
I was sure she was taking about us. The Sirens—including Raidon—lunged at us. I stumbled backwards into Bankotsu as we fell onto the ground. A lucky thing, because we narrowly missed Siren talons. I got off of Bankotsu as he stood up behind me, holding his halberd tightly.
"Which one are you going for?" He asked.
"The one that was so kind to give me her name." I replied cockily. "I should give her a polite death, shouldn't I?"
Bankotsu chuckled as he and Jakotsu went to handle the other Siren. Renkotsu, Ginkotsu, and Suikotsu handled the fourth Siren, and I was left with Raidon. She grinned, but it wasn't a cruel grin. She just grinned, and then it faded into a small smile. I blinked and she was gone. I gasped and turned, but her talons had already snatched up my long hair. I screamed as she lifted me up into the air. I swung Saru hard, the blade flashing bright blue before it cut through Raidon's leg. She screeched and flew up as I landed on my bottom. I shook myself out and looked up, watching Raidon wail over her leg. She glared down at me and opened her mouth, orange energy forming in it. My eyes widened as I started to run, cursing Saru's weight as it slowed me down. The beam chased me as it landed just at my ankles, blowing me forward into the Siren Jakotsu and Bankotsu were fighting. She and I landed on the ground as she grabbed my hair and pinned me under her. She chuckled darkly as I struggled under her, tears welling in my eyes. I was scared, and I couldn't hide that.
Instantly, I felt the Siren's weight off of me, but along with her came a large chunk of my hair. I felt it and it was shorter, falling only a bit below my shoulders. I rubbed my head where my hair had been ripped out and growled. Raidon was hovering over me.
"She's my prey, wench!"
Raidon tackled me as we rolled on the ground. Saru was left behind. I struggled to get out of Raidon's grasp, but it was no use. I screamed as loud as I could, which was a bit louder than a Siren's screech. Raidon covered her ears and flew upwards as I massaged my now tender throat. I ran over to Saru as wisps of smoke started to form around the blade. I gasped but grabbed its hilt, lifting it up. The smoke started to lift off the blade and into the air. Soon, it was foggy, and visibility was almost unheard of. Bankotsu, Jakotsu, and I looked around blindly, knowing that it was all in vain.
I was tackled to the ground again, a cut on my arm. I stood back up and just got slammed down again. Could the Sirens really see in this fog?
"You humans smell funny." I heard Raidon coo.
"They really do, mother. It's easy to pick out the monkey." I heard another chirp.
"Let's kill her first."
The blows continued as I fell to the ground in a tired heap. Blood was coming from a particularly large gash on my side, and I was exhausted. I struggled to get up, but more blood just fell onto the floor in wide puddles. I felt someone grab me by the crook of my arm and lift me up so that I was standing on my feet. I looked up at Bankotsu.
"You awake, Masato?" I nodded weakly. "I guess we'll have to get you some new clothes, huh?" I giggled lightly. "That's going to take a chunk of money out of my pocket."
Raidon and her two daughters circled over us, and I saw their outlines in the thick fog. I pointed upwards, at Raidon. Bankotsu followed my finger.
"What?" He asked.
"Kill her…first." I cooed weakly. "I'll help…"
"Just point them out." Jakotsu said. "Suikotsu, we need help!"
I nodded and smiled weakly, the world swimming in front of me. Bankotsu shook me as I laughed, finally passing out. I couldn't have heard his pleas to keep me awake. The last thing I remembered was my finger falling and hearing Saruwatari's worried screeches.
Bankotsu's POV
"Masato! Masato, wake up, now! You're the only one that knows where there Harpies are! Come on, wake up."
I placed Masato down on the ground, seeing as that she was a complete nuisance in this dangerous situation. Saruwatari had grabbed her blade Saru, waving it in the air in a circle. Jakotsu and I looked at it incredulously, not knowing what it was doing. I bent down to face level with it and lifted it onto my shoulder. Saruwatari continued to wave the sword around in a large circle.
"What is it doing, Big Brother?" Jakotsu asked.
"I have no idea." I answered.
Saruwatari pointed the sword firmly in the North-east direction. I looked in Saru's direction, but got slammed down to the ground with a rip in my clothes. Saruwatari rolled onto the ground, but instantly sat back up and waved Saru around. Renkotsu gasped and ran towards me, grabbing his cannon.
"Look at the monkey's actions closely, Big Brother!"
I looked at Saruwatari, but still had no clue of what he was doing. He held Saru taut in the South, and Renkotsu turned and fired. I heard a loud screech and then Saruwatari started waving Saru again.
"I see now!" Jakotsu exclaimed. "Saruwatari can see the Sirens! He's using Saru to follow their direction. When he stops the sword in a certain direction, The Sirens are attacking from there!"
I growled, scolding myself for not understanding earlier. I lifted Banryuu to face level, and carefully watched Saruwatari. Jakotsu and I watched closely as Saru stopped in the east. Jakotsu and I twisted and swung our blades, watching blood spatter onto the ground.
"NO!" I heard Raidon cry.
She screeched, which gave her away. Instead of heading towards us, she dove towards Masato. I heard Jakotsu scream her name, but I was already running after Raidon. I heard a screech through the fog as I heard the sound of snapping. Raidon was slammed down to the ground as I saw Kyokotsu's bulky figure through the fog.
"Hey, thanks Kyokotsu." I said.
He nodded and swatted another attacking Siren out of the sky and onto the ground. She was the last one. I walked towards her, grabbed her by her thick blue hair, and placed Banryuu's blade tip to her throat. She looked scared for her life. That excited me, as usual and as expected.
"Where's the closest village to buy provisions?" I asked in a menacing tone. The Siren shivered, and then swallowed, tears welling in her golden eyes.
"E-eight miles away. The village of Amoco. Th-there's where you can find supplies."
"Good girl."
I slit the Siren's throat as the Siren's Abyss started to melt away. I slung Banryuu over my shoulder and looked over at Masato. A puddle of blood lay under her, and she was terribly pale. Her lips had gone a bit blue at the ridges, and her hair had been ripped out, now shorter than it was before. I knew she was heartbroken about that.
"Renkotsu, you'll carry Masato while we walk to Amoco." Saruwatari screeched angrily, beating my foot with his tiny fists. I sighed and picked him up by the scruff of his neck. He looked at me with wide, clueless eyes. "I can't carry her; I have a freakin' halberd over my shoulder." Saruwatari screeched and hit my nose. "Okay, okay! Fine."
I grabbed Masato off of the ground, placing her on my shoulder. Sighing, we jumped out of the trees and walked out of the Forest of Hymns towards Amoco.
