Chapter 7

Urgh. This is disgusting. I thought, narrowly avoiding the mountain of horse dung in the middle of the drain pipe.

How can anyone live, being this small? I thought angrily. I looked back, hoping that Maza's ghost had got stuck in a puddle and drowned. But it was still there, just as creepy as ever.

I shuddered, then dived out of the way as a foot came down where I had been standing. That was the worst part, that humans, who would normally run at the sight of me, were now fatal dangers.

I took shelter in a clump of grass, taller than my head, as raindrops larger than me began to rain down. Maza's ghost lay down beside me, eyes fixed forward. I tried to shuffle away, but it just floated closer again. eventually I gave up and stared upwards at a man across the street. He seemed to be having some kind of coughing fit, throwing green gas into the air. The humans were all avoiding him, backing away hurriedly as he staggered around, holding his throat. He gave a mighty cough, throwing something out. It landed near me. I ignored it at first, continuing to watch the man, who had recovered, and seemed fine. But then I heard a sword being drawn, and turned my head.

It was a creature, if you could call it that. But it looked more like a hollow suit of armour, complete with a mask for a face, with hundreds of tiny swords sticking out from it's back and sides. It was floating slightly above the ground, surrounded by a cloud of green gas. The sword it held in it's 'hand' was longer than the others, but still no bigger than a needle, and glowed blue faintly.

It spoke, though it didn't seem to have a face or mouth.

"So, you that dragon-that's-actually-a-fox that I've been told to look for?"

"Um...yeah. I think." I replied, slightly freaked out by this...thing that could speak without a face and came flying out of people's stomachs.

"This thing with you?" he- I think it's a he- asked, pointing towards the ghost.

"No, that's the ghost of my brother that I killed."

He nodded, then jabbed my shoulder with the sword.

"Ow! What was that for?" I growled.

He shrugged. "No reason. What's yer name, anyway?"

"Zuzanzio." I answered, gritting my teeth from pain.

"I'm Blight, a sickness causing demon. And I've been ordered to take you to Yami, so let's get going! He doesn't like to be keep waiting!"

Blight began floating higher, over the river to the Aristocratic Quarter. I flapped my wings furiously to keep up with him, barely making it across without falling into the water. Once we were across the bridge he led me to a swirl of darkness floating above the river.

"This takes us straight to the Ark of Yamoto, where Yami is imprisoned. " Blight announced, and pushed me in.

I landed on a cold ice like surface, wincing as I got to my feet. Blight landed behind me, and told me to look up.

We were in some sort of arena, blue lines flashing along the floor and pillars around the sides. A red sphere was in the centre, the lines flashing in unison with those on the floor. It revolved quickly, spinning into the air and landing again. something rose from the top and rolled out to face us, towering above my head.

I couldn't not laugh. It was a fish. A koi in a fishbowl, strangely twisted and mis formed. I bit my lip, then let out a great snort, finally breaking into cackles of laughter.

"It's a fish!" I laughed. Blight's look of horror just made me laugh harder.

A shadow fell over me, and I looked up to see a giant paw hovering above me. I stopped laughing immediately. The paw slammed back on the ground beside me. Now the fish had turned into a huge wolf, black with the red lines flashing along it's sides, forming a 'Y' between the eyes, which were pure black, not a glimmer of emotion in them, not even anger, which somehow made them even more terrifying. The black mirror floating above the wolf was surrounded by brilliant blood red flames.

"Zuzanzio." The wolf spoke, in an ice cold emotionless voice. "I am Yami, the Emperor of Eternal Darkness."

"Oh." I whispered, cursing myself for laughing.

Yami laughed coldly, still without emotion. "Before I grant you power again, understand this: You are nothing to me. Do one thing wrong, and I shall end your existence."

I nodded slowly, hoping that 'things I wasn't allowed to do' didn't include laughing at Yami.

"You must obey the demon law, always. Blight shall explain once you are away from here." Yami flicked his tail lazily, and I felt a rush of energy as I returned to full size and shape.

"You shall now command the power to switch to this small form and back again, If the need arises. Now, leave my presence."

The portal opened up again, pulling me and Blight back through. This time we landed in North Ryoshima Coast.

"For a minute then I thought he was gonna kill yer!" Blight said.

"Me too." I admitted. Blight looked so much smaller now, bouncing on my snout like a Poncle.

"Don't worry about laughing at him, or following the law too much. I ignore him all the time."

"What is the law exactly?" I asked.

"The demon law. There's lots of them, but the main ones are" he thought for a moment, then continued. "Kill whenever you can, show no mercy, don't make friends with the gods, always bring Orochi's meal on time, if you're one of his imps, but that don't matter cause he's dead."

"Dead?" I asked in shock.

"Yeah, two nights ago. Amaterasu killed him, with that warrior Nagi. Didn't you hear that roar? Amaterasu fell fighting him though, so that's good. Serpent breath was always a bit useless anyway. So now Yami's looking for a new demon lord. Maybe you should apply."

I grunted. Perhaps it would be good. But who was I meant to serve now Orochi was dead? Yami?

"Anyway, back to the rules. I think I've said all of the important ones..." Blight said, then remembered something.

"Oh yeah. You must not love. That is the greatest law."

I grunted again. No need to worry about breaking that one, I thought.

"So what have we got to do now?" I asked.

"Whatever we want, really. As long as it involves death and destruction. How about we go back to those kitsunes you're leader of?"

I couldn't see how that involved death or destruction, but I nodded anyway, beginning to run.

I reached the entrance to the cave and sniffed deeply, smelling the kitsunes, all inside the cave.

Sila's scent was there as well, and a trace of Geki. I frowned and entered the cave, Blight following warily. The pack were huddled together in one corner. Kao turned and faced me, with a snarl.

"Zuzanzio. So you have returned."

I growled back softly. "Who put you in charge?"

Kao grinned triumphantly. "The rest of the kitsunes. Did you really think that we would follow you after you killed Maza, or that the fool Yaki could lead us? " his growl turned more serious, his grin vanishing. "Now it is time for us to do what we should have done many years ago. Kill you, and your foolish friend Silatenin."

Sila? I watched in shock as she was pushed forward, covered in more gashes and bruises. She hissed and spat as she was forced to stand beside me, her single eye gleaming as red as mine. I didn't know what to think about her appearance. Happiness at seeing her, fear that she was trapped like me, annoyance? Anger at her lies that had made me kill Maza, or...something else. I shook my head to clear it, dropping into a fighting crouch and preparing to spring.

Blight drew his sword, though I thought he couldn't do anything to help.

"I am your leader! All should obey me!" I howled, trying to sound confident. Kao merely laughed, looking back at me in scorn.

"Use your powers." Blight hissed in my ear. My eyes widened.

"I don't know how." I muttered back.

Blight rolled his eyes. I tried to bring forth the power, closing my eyes. To my surprise I felt a warm feeling in my stomach , like fire. I opened my eyes and my mouth, sending sparks flying out, that erupted into orange tongues of flame.

The foxes drew back in fear, eyes wide. I laughed and summoned the fire again, as Sila waved her tail to deliver great blows, like slashes.

" No! Just fight them!" Kao cried, but they were too scared.

"Demon!" Came a great thundering roar from outside the cave. Gekigami stood framed in the cave mouth, his massive shoulder blades blocking out the sunlight.

"Come and fight me, mangy fox!"

I stiffened slightly in fear. Blight jabbed my ear, and pointed to another black portal that he had summoned. I took one last glance at Geki, the cowering foxes, and then a lingering gaze at Sila, then I leapt through.


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