Chapter 10: Demonic Entrapment

Björn and Tomite start their search through the northern gate toward the mountains.

"We have been going in circles for an entire day with minimal progress."

"Should we make camp here then and call it a day?"

Björn hears a sound in the distance that causes him to startle Tomite without realizing it.

"You have experience in the mountains right? You're so careless! You startled me! Sheesh!"

"I sense a presence coming from the mountains as though it is calling for help. Can you hear it?"

Björn's curiosity lead them to what appeared to be a temple and could hear sobbing from within.

"What's a temple doing in a place like this? An old one too!" asked Tomite inquisitively.

"I hear sobbing, I know that there must be somebody here. I can feel it." Björn said following his instincts.

Björn and Tomite continue to explore the ancient temple searching for the shrieking voice until they come across a naked woman who appeared to be bathing at that very moment. Tomite is embarrassed having walked in on woman bathing and managed to smack his head against the bricks in response. As soon as the woman got dressed Tomite and Björn decided to explain their situation to woman.

"I see. So you two are on a journey together."

"Yes. Apologies for any trouble we may have caused by we thank you for allowing us to stay for tonight."

"Do you live in these ruins all by yourself?" asked Tomite curiously

"Well, I was also on journey two years ago and ended up here." The woman explained.

"Were you crying just a little while ago?" Björn asked wanting to know where the sobbing was coming from.

"No?"

I wonder who was crying then if it wasn't this woman. Is there some force that is beckoning me to go to the mountains? Tomite and I must find out what or who it is. Could it be the next warrior that we were searching for, perhaps? Well it doesn't hurt to find out.

Before the woman could even respond, Tomite suggests to Björn that they should have the woman show them where they would be sleeping for the night. The woman heads upstairs without the boys as though to check up on something or someone until she reaches a prison cell. The woman begs for the man to reveal himself to her but then man in the cage is still too freighted for fear of being harmed. Later Tomite decides to bath himself and the woman barges in on him to bring him an alcoholic beverage like Sake to warm him up. It's at that moment that she notices the character on Tomite's back.

"That character on your back…"

" Due to the arrogance I had in my youth I got this tattoo to show the emptiness in my heart"

"The Genbu Celestial Warriors…!" said the woman not buying Tomite's lie and obviously heard about the legend.

The woman suddenly become interested in the tattoo and wanted to know why Tomite hid it from her. Tomite obviously didn't show her the tattoo because it could lead to a dangerous situation or might have caused the woman to change her mind about letting Björn and Tomite stay the night. On the contrary, the woman was quite intrigued by it (or at least pretended to be) .

"So what role does that foreigner with you play? Is he also a part of the Genbu or just a friend?"

"He's the Priest of Genbu."

"Priest of Genbu! But I thought the legend stated that it would be a woman though. Interesting."

Björn was physically exhausted but for some reason could not sleep and wondered where Knut was and if he was ever going to be reunited with him again. On the other hand he was also trying to figure out how he was to go about finding Hatsui at the same time. Björn could hear the crying once again and decided that he would go outside to find out where exactly it was coming from.

I knew it. Somebody is crying but where could they be?

Rimudo snuck up behind Björn placing his hands over his mouth in order to keep Björn silent.

"Who's there?"

"Shh! Keep quiet!" whispered Rimudo cautiously.

"Tomite isn't here?"

"Why are you here?" Björn demanded

"There appears to be another warrior of the Genbu seven in the mountains and I thought I would investigate as you two were doing."

"You're looking for Hatsui too?"

"You mean you two haven't found him yet either?"

Perhaps that's where the crying voice is coming from!

"Well I have to go and find him before you people do!" said Rimudo rudely.

"Wait! Where are you going? I SAID WAIT!" demands Björn while in an attempt to stop Rimudo which causes Björn to knock him to the ground while Rimudo grabs his arm in pain.

"Are you all right?" Björn asks concerned about Rimudo's injury.

Rimudo gets up and lets Björn know that he is fine and then leaves at the same time the woman reappears.

"Björn? Do you have a moment?"

"Weren't you just speaking to someone just now?"

"No." says Björn in denial.

"There is someone I would like you to meet. It's one of your companions. One of the Genbu Celestial Seven."

The woman describes Zaraa's situation to Björn and how he attacked many people over three years ago. Which is why he is in hiding at the moment. Zaraa was the type that would appear to be gentle and kind but actually in reality, he was a very vicious person. The woman wanted Zaraa to atone for his crimes and with the help of Björn, hopes that he could help him out. Could this actually safe though? Björn barely know this woman and must exercise caution at the same time for his own safety.

Something doesn't seem quite right about this woman. But if she is telling the truth and I can meet the next warrior of the Genbu then it won't be too horrible, right? Well I guess there is no harm in at least following her.

It was as Björn had feared, he walked directly into a trap and when he made the wrong misstep, the title collapsed and could have fallen to his death if Rimudo hadn't stepped in at the nick of time to rescue him.

"Uruki? How perfect!" grinned the woman evily.

"T-T-Thank you, Rimudo!"

"It appears that you have fallen into a trap." Rimudo said pointing out the obvious.

"But why would she do this?"

"I've had my suspicious that there was something not quite right about this woman."

The woman disappeared while a floating spirit with a large orb of needles revealed itself and attacked without warning.

"YOU ARE MY ENEMIES!...I WILL DEFEAT YOU!" said the evil spirit while violently thrusting needles at Björn and Rimudo.

In the meantime an intoxicated Tomite is waiting for the woman and Björn to return after noticing that it is taking a long time for the woman to simply bring Björn to join Tomite for drinks which was not the case. He is too intoxicated to notice that the woman was right behind him and ready to eliminate Tomite while an iron basket with needles continues to inflict pain upon Rimudo and Björn.

"This is Hatsui isn't it?"

"Wait Hatsui! Listen to what we have to say." Said Björn in attempt to stop the violent needle attacks.

"Did you murder all those people with your "power" and if so why did you do?"

"A-A-After all , you g-g-guys also came to b-b-blame me. I-I am strong" Said Hatsui slightly nervous.

"Oh really? This is coming from someone who won't even show his own face." Rimudo said egging Hatsui on.

"For your information I have killed more people than you and more people have come to capture me."

"Don't brag! You are no better than him!" exclaimed Björn annoyed at Rimudo's boasting.

"Hatsui! I am the Priest of Genbu and this man here is Uruki and Tomite here as well. We have come for you to become one of our companions."

"P-Priest come for me?" asked Hatsui stunned.

"We need to calm down so that we can properly discuss the events that took place over three years ago."

Hatsui explains that his own parents were gone and that he had to make a living somehow. So he sold medicinal plants but he was mocked and bullied to the point that he needed a way to defend himself. Needles then thrusted out of his body suddenly and when he awoke everyone was defeated.

"So you can't control your power, can you?"

The woman revealed herself and quickly went in for the attack. Since Tomite is still intoxicated to a degree, he is unable to use his power and demands to know what the woman put into his drink. The woman also informs Tomite that Hatsui is attacking Rimudo and Björn as they speak. Her mission was to eliminate all the Genbu Seven staring with Uruki but instead she found Hatsui three years ago and because he hid himself in a nest of needles, it made it impossible for the woman to vanquish him. She reveals that she manipulated Hatsui into thinking that people from the outside world were enemies.

"I thought you were ordinary travelers like always but- I soon learned that Uruki had come here and that the Priest of Genbu and the Seven Celestial Warriors had also appeared."

Tomite makes an attempt to calm himself down so that he can control his power while the woman continues to charge and slash at him. Tomite tries to use his power but the woman is too swift for him and then pulls out his bow and arrow. That triggered the woman to flee while Hatsui explains his hostility toward Rimudo and Björn. As Hatsui was about to finish what he was saying, the woman appears before them.

"Zaraa! Why haven't you killed them yet? GO ON NOW! DO IT!" demanded the woman furiously.

"BJÖRN! RIMUDO! THAT WOMAN IS AN ENEMY!"

"Tomite!"

"There's someone behind all this who wants to destroy all seven Celestial Warriors!"

"Fe-Fen!" Hatsui said the woman's name in horror.

"Come with us!"

"Shut your mouth! These are our enemies! Hurry up and kill them!" commanded the woman as if to manipulate Hatsui even further.

"Don't use your power for such a thing. Some people only have a murderous power. There's nothing you can do about!"

"Zaraa, have faith in me! Who's been here for you for the past two years? Nobody else will accept you except me!" beckoned the woman deceitfully.

Hatsui rolls up into his ball of needles again and thrusts more needles out of his body causing them to fall in all directions.

"Yes! That's it" said woman thinking that Hatsui has come to his senses.

Björn then came to the conclusion that his heart and fear were what were causing the needles to burst out like crazy. Rimudo decides that he must penetrate the barrier around Hatsui with a weapon of some sort. He spots a sword but before he could use it more needles swarmed at Björn and then Hatsui, in his ball-shaped nest got closer while the needles continued to come out.

"Zaraa! Stronger needles! Defeat the enemy that wishes to cause you harm!" pleaded the woman maniacally.

"St-stay away…"

"It doesn't matter how many needles you use, I can and will endure it!" challenged Björn courageously.

"Zaraa! HURRY UP! YOUR NEEDLES!"

"SILENCE! ARE YOU THAT STUPID THAT YOU CANNOT SEE THAT THE NEEDLES ARE COMING FROM THE PAIN IN HIS HEART?!" shouted Björn angrily.

Björn reassures Hatsui that he is not alone and that they are willing to help him if he would learn to trust him , Tomite and Rimudo. In the meantime Hatsui is experiencing flashbacks from his past as if trying to confront or at least let go of the pain and suffering that had occurred.

"THAT'S WRONG IF YOU'RE SEPARATED FROM ME, YOU CAN'T…!" begged the woman trying to get Hatsui to once again eliminate the three men before them.

"Can't what? Be used as your toy to do your bidding? You're pathetically weak if that's what you rely on." Björn said scathingly to woman.

Nest of needles opened up and revealed Hatsui's youthfulness to Björn.

"Ni-Nice to m-meet you, Björn! I'm Hatsui!" said the young boy tearfully.

The woman sees this as an opportunity to escape but she is sadly mistaken. Tomite and Rimudo have her blocked off from both directions and demand to know where her companions. The woman reveals that Rimudo should ask his father for reasoning behind this.

"Tomite! Take care of Björn and the little boy!"

"Eh? You mean you're not going to take care of them?" asked Tomite confused.

"Rimudo! (Turning to Hatsui): Can you stand Hatsui?"

Rimudo rushes outside only find that a man had already slaughtered the woman as she is falling off the rooftop.

"What are you….?"

Björn dashes out to see why Rimudo left in such a hurry only to find a mysterious man awaiting them.

"You're the one who shot me that time!"

"Uruki , is it?"

"You're the one who was sent by my father to eliminate all the Celestial Seven Warriors!"

"Incompetent things are useless. I will take your head." Challenged the archer.

"I would love to see you try!"

"RYUUTOU KUZAN!" shouted Rimudo as a one-directional tornado appeared and advanced toward the archer.

Amazing! The tornado seems to be going in one direction instead of all over the place like normal ones do anyway.

The archer however evaded the attacked and swiftly made his move toward Rimudo. It appears that Rimudo's power has no effect on the man whatsoever. Afterwards the man reverses the same attack back onto to Rimudo and thus knocking him to the ground. Tomite and Björn try to assist Rimudo but the man is simply too powerful and eventually Soren intervenes. Soren instructs everyone to run while he holds this man off. The man sword manages to break through Soren's sword and at that very moment notices power coming from the man's eyes. The man warned Soren to stay out of his way and then dodges the man's attack while inviting everyone to follow him.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Rimudo's attendant, Soren! Hurry we must leave now!"

Hatsui is still shocked by the woman's death and it takes a lot of persuasion just to get him to accompany Björn and the others. Once they made it to safer ground, Björn patches up Tomite's wounds obtained during battle. Rimudo is still unconscious while Soren is attending to him. Soren explains that Celestial Warriors are much stronger and more resilient than normal humans while Tomite still distrusts him for being them for Kutou. Björn tries to make peace with the situation but ultimately is unsuccessful and Tomite vowed for an explanation when Rimudo was conscious again. At the same time Tomite is also annoyed that Hatsui is still mourning over the woman that in the end betrayed him.