The Demon's Mark

By Mardrena

"I am terribly sorry…" Tar Uhnin began in a dismayed drawl. "But for all of our advanced techniques and knowledge, we Thunthen do not have a cure for this…'Common Cold'."

"I'm still trying to figure out how I got sick in the first place," Ryo grumbled from where he lay in a bed in the infirmary, surrounded by Tar, Mia, and Kayura. "I mean my Armor fought off the Thangien Plague for crying out loud…" Ryo scratched his head, sniffling briefly.

"You were wearing it then, not in the city," Mia reminded.

"Well, it's nothing I can cure with the Staff, but it's nothing that can't be remedied with chicken soup and…" Kayura hefted a bed tray over Ryo's lap. Ryo found the aroma of soup pleasing, but the color of the drink in the cup alarmed him; bright, almost fluorescent green.

"Oh GOD no! Please, no! Anything but that!" Ryo recoiled and tried to push himself against the headrest. "It tastes like locker room-" Ryo began. Kayura let out a chattering squawk and threw her hands up into the air then spun on one heel and stormed out the room.

"AHAHAHAHAA I don't wanna hear it!" She'd heard more than enough complaints about Richtho tea's effect on the human palate to last her a lifetime.

"The tea really does help, Ryo. It'll bolster your immune system enough to carry you through the worst of the symptoms," Mia insisted. Ryo remained surly and averted his gaze.

"Ryo, you can either take your medicine like a good little human, or I can stand here and regale you for hours in explicit medical terminology what Richtho tea actually tastes like," Tar warned, his wrinkled, scaled lips enunciating words fluidly over his razor-sharp teeth.

"…You wouldn't…" Ryo eyed him warily and raised an eyebrow.

"I've been doing this since before your father's father's time, Ryo. I. Never. Bluff."

"Come on Ryo. I know there's no pressing threats right now, but you can't be up in the household until you've recovered. Ryu's health is too delicate at his age," Mia reminded.

"I know…" Ryo sighed and gingerly picked up the cup and raised it to his lips, taking a swig of the tea, hoping he could swallow fast enough to avoid his taste buds. It didn't work. He squeezed his eyes shut and convulsed slightly, puckering his mouth to avoid vomiting. Once the tea cleared his esophagus, he set the cup down and tried drinking the soup, hoping it would cleanse his mouth of the aftertaste. That didn't work either and made the soup taste funny.

"There, you'll be back on your feet in no time. I'm going up top to finish some university work. Get some rest," Mia squeezed Ryo's wrist reassuringly. Ryo smiled at her and watched her exit the infirmary. Tar waited until Ryo finished his meal and retrieved the tray.

"I'll be in the comm. room with Naz. Signal either of us if you need anything," he said and lumbered out of the chamber, leaving Ryo alone in the cushioned bed. Ryo settled down against the pillow and clasped his hands behind his head. If anything, the foul tea had almost instantly alleviated his congestion, though his head still felt stuffy.

He couldn't quite figure out where he contracted such a potent bug. He rarely, if ever, got sick in the conventional sense. He mulled over recent events, one incident in particular…

"Baby powder, purified baby water with minerals, hypo-allergenic diapers-what the heck's the difference between regular baby wipes and 'organic' baby wipes?' I swear, companies just make this stuff up to make more money," Ryo scowled as he read the list Mia had written for him. She'd tasked him with buying supplies for little Ryu from the city while she resumed work at the university. "When I was little, all *my* mom needed was hot water and warm towels…" Ryo sighed wistfully, a distant, sad memory coming to mind.

He nearly lost his balance and his grip on the grocery bag when someone bumped-more like rammed- him in the shoulder. Ryo regained his footing and briefly checked the bag to make sure nothing had spilled. He glanced over his shoulder and saw a heavyset man walking away.

"Well excuse you!" Ryo grumbled. The man seemed indifferent as he walked away, but as Ryo turned around, he spotted out the corner of his eye how the man came to a stop and reeled to one side, as if feeling dizzy. The man placed a hand against his face and shook his head, perhaps either exhausted or hung over. Ryo shrugged and continued walking.

Normally, ill civilians wore masks as a courtesy to prevent spread of sickness. The guy hadn't worn a mask at all. Ryo sighed and resigned himself to another day or two of recovery. Kayura hadn't been able to use the Staff of Ancients to heal him, and Shannon and Sage had traveled to Thanged on sabbatical. Cye had taken Michelle and Anubis to Arizona for a tribal ceremony.

Ryo dozed off in the bed and rolled onto his side under the sheets. Tar hadn't bothered setting up any equipment to monitor his vitals, considering the simple ailment. Several hours passed and Ryo slept soundly, undisturbed in the infirmary.

He twitched and rolled to the opposite side, clenching the sheet in his fist. His brow furrowed in a scowl as his slumber turned fitful. His eyes remained closed, and he didn't notice the red mist bubbling up from under the bed and rolling over the sheets. Ryo tensed and his jaw clenched as if in pain, but he did not wake as the mist reached out like fingers towards his face. Ryo whimpered and sweat beaded on his brow from something other than fever.


He ran through the moonlit streets of the city, utterly alone in normally-crowded streets. He threw a frantic glance over his shoulder when he felt the pavement shudder. A towering form rounded the corner of a building and glowered at him with glowing red eyes with candle-like pupils. He bolted down another street and ducked around a corner, hoping to lose the creature. Just as he entered a crossroad, the nightmare leapt infront of him. He staggered back and stared up at the black-skinned flame-maned beast. It reached for him with thick black claws. Before he had a chance to flee, the nightmare scooped him up and grasped him tightly. It lifted him to its mouth and bared long, glistening canines, ready to devour him.

Something slammed into the creature hard enough to send it reeling and forcing it to release him. He landed on the street harmlessly and craned his head back to watch in amazement as a titanic version of the original Armor of Wildfire grappled with the black-skinned flame-maned nightmare. Wildfire seemed to have the upper hand, but the beast wrenched itself free and splayed its claws at Wildfire's chest, knocking Wildfire to the ground with a blast of fire.

He tried to flee for cover, but the beast lunged and snatched him off the ground. Wildfire reached up and tried to grab his arm with hollow white metal fingers. He clutched desperately onto the Armor, but his hands slipped on the smooth metal. The creature shoved Wildfire away and lifted him to its muzzle-like mouth, baring its fangs before hinging its maw wide…

Ryo found himself in a dark void, and though he could see himself clearly enough, only featureless darkness encompassed him on all sides. He took a cautious step forward and immediately curtains of fire sprang up and surrounded him. "What's going on?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

"That voice!" Ryo whirled around, startled upon hearing the voice sounding so much like his own. He squinted, barely able to make out a shadowy figure moving through the flames, completely untouched. "Who are you? What do you want with me?" Ryo demanded.

"Have you forgotten me so easily? Ryo, you wound me," the figure reached out with one arm and brushed the flames aside as easily as a curtain. Ryo gasped and stepped back when he saw the humanoid creature. The flames erupted behind him, forcing him to stay and face the beast.

It wore his clothes and looked like a duplicate of him except for the pitch-black skin, pointed ears, and glowing red eyes with candle-like slit-shaped pupils. Two tiny horns peeked out from under thick flame red hair. Thick black claws tipped the fingers. It leaned to one side, regarding Ryo smugly with only the light from the fire cast upon its face giving highlight to its grin.

"No…no…it…it can't be! This isn't real, this is a dream. This is that stupid tea messing with my head…" Ryo stammered, again backing away from the nightmare only to be repelled by the fire wall. The beast threw its head back and laughed richly, displaying inch-long fangs.

"They drove me out, trapped me in ice, but ice melts and after all this time I've found my way back to you." Ryo had a vision of the man who had bumped into him seemingly at random. The man's eyes appeared black like pools of void, but after brushing against Ryo, the darkness lifted. The man walked away a few steps before staggering to a halt and regaining awareness, utterly confused how he'd gone from the ruins of the food processing plant to the middle of the city. "I've got big plans for you …" the beast stated and stepped towards him. Ryo glanced about hastily for an exit only to be driven back by the treacherous fire. The creature grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him close, turning him about to face it. "You and I are now one!"

"No! NO!" Ryo struggled, trying to pull free.

"Yes!" the nightmare hissed and held its hand infront of Ryo's face, splaying its claws. Ryo felt his body go numb from its charm power, but his eyes remained wide in horror. "I'm back, and I'm here to stay," the creature whispered and leaned down towards Ryo's neck.

NOOOOOO! Ryo wanted to scream, but couldn't as the fangs sank into his flesh.


Ryo's seizures subsided and he rolled onto his back with the wrinkled sheets draped over his lower body. He seemed outwardly calm, and his eyes remained closed at first.

The lids slid open, revealing eyes like pools of void.


Mia finished scrubbing and sanitizing the last of the dishes and set it in the rack to dry. She'd just finished nursing Ryu earlier and the newborn rest soundly in his crib upstairs. After Ryu's premature birth, Tanya had graciously surrendered her room for her new nephew. Unfortunately that meant she had to bunk in one of the other rooms. Cye and Kento had the bad luck to draw the short straw on that decision, but oddly enough Kento didn't object to sharing a bunk bed with Tanya; the bottom bunk, of course. Mia dried her hands and rummaged through a cabinet.

She set out a carton of broth, intending to fix another bowl of soup for Ryo. She'd asked both Danae and Tar, but according to them, trying to deaden the abrasive taste of Richtho tea with any spices or seasonings negated its medicinal effects. Tar assured her one cup would be sufficient to set Ryo on the road to recovery, and from then on out nutritional fluids would do the rest. Mia sighed to herself, slightly dismayed. All of her help had apparently scattered to the four corners of the universe with several of the Ronin out of town or off-realm on various errands. Only Tanya and Ryo remained in the household at the time. For all their experience in matters of combat and mystical arts…neither Tanya nor Kayura knew how to change a diaper.

Mia began mincing ingredients for the soup. She blinked when she sensed something and glanced over her shoulder to see Ryo standing at the counter. "Oh! Ryo! I'm sorry, you startled me," Mia apologized. Ryo had one hand against the countertop but didn't seem at all weak. "I didn't expect you to be up and about so soon. I guess that tea really did work, huh? …Ryo…is…is something wrong?" Mia frowned when Ryo said nothing. She noticed the way he stared at her with narrowed eyes that looked dark for some reason. "Why are you staring at me like that-" Mia fell silent when she heard a scraping sound and her gaze jumped to Ryo's hand. At first she though he wore sub-armor under his clothing as he rapped black fingertips against the countertop. Mia's eyes widened when she saw the pointed fingertips that looked awfully like thick black claws. Ryo lifted his hand and touched the surface with his index finger and began scratching a circle lazily in the surface. Shavings curled up each time the claw made a pass. "Oh no…no…I-It can't be!" Mia stammered and backed away slowly.

"Oh yeah," Ryo's lips peeled back in a grin, and Mia could see his canines against his gums, each one an inch long. He lifted his left arm infront of his chest and swept his hand over his face. "I'm back in black!" Demon Ryo crowed. Mia remembered he had a weakness to water. Her frantic glance at the sink basin betrayed her intent and before she could make her move, the beast blocked her path. A gurgling hiss emitted from the fanged mouth and he stepped towards her. Mia dashed to the side, but the nightmare sprang up onto the counter, crouching like a predator and grinning at her wickedly. Mia staggered back and glanced over her shoulder, wondering if she could alert Tanya or Kayura. She bolted for the dining room, screaming in alarm. Demon Ryo pounced and caught her by the shoulder, spinning her around to face him. "Hey hey hey, where you going in such a rush to?" he purred, his strength several times her own despite his lean body.

"Let go of me you monster!" Mia shrieked at the top of her lungs, hoping someone heard her.

"Awww, is that any way to treat your hubby?" Demon Ryo cooed mockingly.

"You're not my husband!"

"Of course I am. After all, we are married," Demon Ryo corrected and lifted his hand to display the gold wedding band encircling his thick clawed finger. Mia struggled to wrench free of his grasp but he held her fast. He held one hand infront of her face and splayed his claws before curling them slightly. Mia froze, her body seized by his charm power. The demon brushed her hair away from her neck gently. "You know, I've heard it said that a truly righteous man would only ever fantasize about what wicked deeds he might do…but never act on his urges…let's see if that holds true!" Demon Ryo lunged toward her neck with bared fangs.

Mia wanted to scream, but her throat refused to respond. She could feel his hot breath against her skin; feel the tips of his fangs against her neck ever so slightly. Mia blinked, realizing that nothing had happened right away. She blinked again, surprised she could blink. She could hear the demon grunting from some sort of strain. His grip on her shoulders seemed to falter.

"Rrrr…nnnnrhgn…you're…resisting…" a deeper, rougher version of Ryo's voice growled. Mia thought he meant her at first. "You didn't the last time!"

"I…won't…let you hurt her!" Ryo's voice croaked. Mia's eyes widened and she found she could move freely as she pulled away from the demon.

"Ryo!" she cried. Her initial joy turned into shock when she saw Demon Ryo standing there, rooted in place and shuddering all over. He briefly turned human before becoming demon again.

"Why do you deny it? This is what you want, isn't it?" the demonic voice demanded.

"No…not like this…not this way…I-I won't!" Demon Ryo tossed his head and screamed.

"You will! Give in to your desires…" the demonic voice hissed.

"No! She's my wife!" Ryo's voice shrieked. His body flickered between human and demon.

"Yes…that's it! You can do this, Ryo! Keep fighting! You can beat him!" Mia encouraged.

"No…I can't!" Mia gasped upon hearing the doubt in his voice. "I-I'm barely keeping him contained as it is…I-I don't know how much longer I can keep this up…" the human Ryo seemed to prevail for a few moments, but Mia could see the strain in his body. Deep in his subconscious, Ryo Sanada grappled with his demonic doppelganger for control. Ryo became demon again and seized Mia by the wrist, snarling, but just as quickly he released his grip on her and clutched his wrist with his other hand, struggling to remain human from sheer force of will. "The name…use it!" Ryo whimpered, his body lingering between human and demon states.

"Name? What are you-" Mia shook her head, uncertain to what he meant. Then she remembered; a word Anubis had spoken the first time they banished the beast. It sounded like a command…Arnold Shwa-no, definitely not that! Arn…Arnur… Come on Mia, think! Think!

In his subconscious mind, Ryo Sanada faltered, his body already weakened by illness and his spirit fatigued while the demon remained strong. Ryo cried out as the demon won and his body changed once more. Demon Ryo hissed angrily, reaching out for Mia with thick black claws.

"ARNURHAZAEDRON!" Mia shouted. Demon Ryo froze, his claws just inches away from Mia. "Arnurhazaedron, I command you to stand down!" Mia said forcefully. Demon Ryo growled indignantly but lowered his arms regardless. "Now…back away…"

"Don't overdo it…" the demonic voice snarled and the red eyes narrowed, but he obeyed.

"Okay…now…Arnurhazaedron, I command you to leave Ryo's body!" Mia stated.

"Sorry babe, doesn't work that way," Demon Ryo grinned and shook his head.

"What? You can't go changing the rules…and where do you go off calling me 'babe'?!"

"I'm not changing the rules, honey. It's just the way things work. See, Ryo and me…we're like…roommates that don't quite get along. You won't hear him admit it, but he actually likes having me around. Oh, he'll try to put up a fight, of course; he has you and the child to protect…but…I'm sure he'll listen to reason. You've got a strong will to compel me…but you're no priestess. You can't simply exorcise me. Once we've fully merged, we'll set the world on fi-"

*CRACK!*

"OW! Hey, was that really necessary? I wasn't attacking her, okay?" Demon Ryo whirled around to glare at his attacker and gestured to Mia with both hands. "We were just having a conversation, and I-" Tanya grabbed her possessed brother by both shoulders and rammed her knee forcefully between his legs, causing his feet to leave the floor and cutting off whatever he'd wanted to say. Demon Ryo reeled from the blow and staggered to one side while Tanya used the distraction to put herself between the demon and Mia. She held a cracked rolling pin in one hand and even though she wore her Jaguar sub-armor, she hesitated to use her clawnchers.

"Mia, you okay?" Tanya asked over her shoulder.

"I'm fine. He didn't hurt me. Ryo's still in there. He's trying to fight back but…" Mia trailed off and the two women glanced back at the demon. Demon Ryo grabbed the counter edge with one hand and leaned against it. Tanya raised an eyebrow. Usually such a blow rendered the victim unconscious. Demon Ryo blinked several times and shook his head, straightening himself.

"Okay…it's a good thing I lack that particular vulnerability in this form…" he muttered. Tanya and Mia stared at him confused for several seconds.

"WAUGH!" Tanya squawked when she realized what that meant and recoiled.

"What are we going to do…last time it took all three Mystics to drive him out, and even then we had to weaken him by freezing him," Mia fretted. The demon made no movement to attack.

"Maybe we can stuff him in the fridge until we can get Michelle and Shannon back here," Tanya suggested. Demon Ryo glanced at her and snarled.

"Hah, I'd like to see you try, you barbarian witch!"

Tanya regarded her possessed brother with narrowed eyes and calmly set the rolling pin down on the stove counter. Her hand then found the handle of a rather large cast-iron skillet.

"Whoa, Tanya, that wasn't me! That was the demon talking! You don't have to-" Demon Ryo waved both hands frantically but pleaded using Ryo's voice.

*BANG!*

Demon Ryo collapsed to the floor on his stomach. Tanya set the skillet-now marred by a tiny horn-like indention-back on the stove. "Kayura, I'm going to need you up topside. Looks like that fire demon that has it in for Ryo is back," Tanya spoke into her wrist-com. "Try calling Cye and see if he can get Michelle back here. Use the crystal beacon to raise Shannon on Thanged, too," she said to Mia. Demon Ryo could barely hear them as he slipped into unconsciousness, and neither the demon nor Ryo Sanada had the strength to stay awake or move.


"Nnngh…uhhh…what the-?" Demon Ryo opened his eyes and pushed himself off from a hard surface. He found himself lying upon a shallow stone shelf carved from the wall in a three-sided stone chamber the size of a closet. A crackling blue field of light comprised the fourth wall. He reached cautiously and touched the wall with the tips of his claws. A shock coursed up his arm and he withdrew his hand, shaking his wrist and wincing. He blinked when he noticed a tall saurian figure standing on the opposite side of the wall.

"Considering Ryo endorsed the construction of a containment cell to peacefully restrain prisoners such as Dynasty Droids or Mal Daggur's agents, I find it somewhat ironic that he-albeit in a possessed state- would be its first inmate," Naz Dassyr, senior technician, drawled.

"Your face is ironic!" Demon Ryo snarled and punched in the direction of the wall, launching a flaming blast at it. The field crackled and reflected the blast right at him, and Demon Ryo barely leaned to the side to avoid it as it struck the wall behind him, leaving a steaming scorch mark. He blinked in surprise and glanced at Naz when he heard him chuckling.

"I wouldn't recommend any further outbursts of that nature…the space is rather cramped at present. While I am relieved it proves sufficient to restrain you, it is somewhat of a puzzle to me how you were able to infiltrate both our sensors and Lady Kayura's 'wards'. I assume at present I am speaking to the extra-dimensional entity identified as 'Arnurhazaedron'," Demon Ryo scowled at use of the fire demon's true name, but Naz didn't issue any sort of command to follow. "Or the composite persona Kayura and Tanya have dubbed 'Demon Ryo'…"

"'Demon Ryo'?" the demon raised an eyebrow and scratched the back of his head with one hand then shrugged. "Huh…I kinda like that…" he muttered and reclined on the stone bed.

"Might I be permitted to speak with Ryo?" Naz finally asked politely. Demon Ryo grinned.

"Sorry, but he's plum tuckered out after our previous bout. He can try to hold out as long as possible, but I'm sure I'll win him over eventually." Demon Ryo placed both hands on the back of his head and stretched his back and shoulders idly. "The longer I stay in this form, the stronger I'll become, and not even your little prison cell will hold me." Demon Ryo snorted, not at all fazed by his situation, and closed his eyes seemingly to nap, leaving Naz concerned.


"Michelle's a no-go. Cye can't bring her back yet," Mia said as she entered the conference room. Kayura sat with her back to the stone table while Tanya leaned against a wall. Miz Paufan stood off to the side holding a computer tablet in one hand and glancing at the three women.

"Can't or won't?" Tanya demanded, looking exasperated.

"Can't. Michelle's in a deep trance as part of her training, and she can't be disturbed until it's finished. There's no telling how long that'll take. I decided against calling Thanged, too. I know we need Shannon, but I can't bring myself to bother her after that close call with that Soul Hunter possessing Sage… I could try raising the expedition in the Belt, but Danae let Dais take Pegasus with him, and the Thunthen's communication network can't reach that far yet," Mia added, remembering how Bak had taken the Apprentices and Koi and Rgn aboard the Argonauth on a mission to survey the Asteroid Belt and plant sensors to alert them to fleet movements. Rowen, Dais, Kento, Sehkmet, and Cale had accompanied the mission.

"I could easily reach them, but they wouldn't be able to help, not with this," Kayura argued.

"Speaking of, how the heck did the fire demon slip under everyone's radar? I mean you were standing right next to Ryo and the Staff of Ancients didn't even budge," Tanya commented.

"As Mia's friend, Reiou, made me acutely aware, there are powers in the world far more ancient and potent than the Clan of Ancients. We can't do this without Michelle and Shannon."

"What about your pally pal? He's a big buff on exorcising demons. Maybe he can help?" Tanya suggested and looked at Mia. Mia shook her head, frowning.

"I already tried calling him. Aniko said he's off in Wales trying to stamp out a new Soul Hunter tribe trying to form. She said he could be here next week, but by then it'd be too late."

"Those Soul Hunters are like cockroaches too…gotta kill'em all…" Tanya muttered. "What's with this guy anyway? Why's he after Ryo so much?" she asked Kayura.

"Demons of this caliber constantly seek ways of increasing their power. Often they seek out singular individuals to possess and ultimately merge with completely. The resulting entity bears the strengths of the previous two, greatly enhanced. As we witnessed last time, Demon Ryo alone is far more powerful than the other Ronin Warriors combined."

"He told me they'd already partially merged, and if he takes Ryo over…oh, I don't want to lose him!" Mia clamped a hand over her mouth.

"And just so happens two of our strongest Mystics are unavailable…perfect storm of shit going on right here. I wonder if somehow the demon didn't plan on this all along. I mean, if Ryo hadn't put up as much of a fight as he did, who knows what could've happened to Mia," Tanya commented. Mia frowned at that, recalling a comment Reiou had made once. After Reiou's visit, Ryo had sat down with her and confided in her his feelings concerning what had happened during his first possession. While the two had avoided talking about the subject previously, Mia had patiently heard him out and could tell from the way he wrung his hands and the expression on his face that he heavily regretted his actions. "What…what would have happened?"

Tanya and Mia glanced at Kayura, who bit her lip and closed her eyes. "He could have turned Mia into a half-demon, or…"Kayura sucked in air through her teeth and looked up at them. "Or he could have used his demon essence to corrupt her, destroying her personality and converting her into a mindless demon thrall." Tanya made a face and Mia cringed. "Despite Ryo's title as Warrior of Virtue, he is still human, though his discipline allows him to refrain from those desires. In his possessed state, however, he more readily acts on his passions."

"Hey, I can hear you talking about me!" They heard Demon Ryo shout from the cell in the main cavern. "Just because I'm a devil doesn't make me horny. That's a stereotype!"

"SHUT THE *CENSORED* UP YOU *CENSORED* *CENSORED*!" Tanya shrieked shrilly and stabbed her finger at the doorway to the conference room. A long silence followed.

"…Listen, Lady, I'm over three-thousand years old and I can tell you ; none of what you just said was an actual curse word…" Tanya fumed and clenched her fists. "Actually, I take it back; I shouldn't call you a lady. That's false advertisement…"

"*CENSORED* YOU!" Tanya screamed again.

"Well there's an oldie but goodie…"

"OOOOGH!" Tanya growled and took a step towards the door.

"Tanya, he's immune to nut shots," Mia reminded. Tanya spun around on her heel and smacked her fist into her palm in frustration then folded her arms over her chest.

"It's like the demon's not turning Ryo evil, just making him act like an even bigger dick…which is funny since he doesn't have one…heh…heh heh heh heh…" Tanya giggled.

"Tanya…" Kayura chided and rolled her eyes. Tanya coughed and quickly composed herself.

"Sorry. Serious face," she said and cleared her throat several times, though Mia could still see a grin tugging at her lips. Miz Paufan stowed his tablet in his shell and raised a hand.

"Um, pardon the interruption," he asked meekly and took a step forward. The three women glanced at him. "But…what's a demon?" Mia, Tanya, and Kayura exchanged uncertain glances, almost embarrassed by the question. Miz blinked and waved both hands. "I mean-! I'm familiar enough with the term! We've had to fight Ouagli's minions on more than one occasion…it's just…the concept, it's something that escapes my grasp," Miz elaborated. Mia and Tanya glanced at Kayura, who turned to the side in her seat and bit her lip.

"It varies between religions and regions. Demons are commonly considered agents of chaos and servants of the underworld, set loose upon the earth to sow discord among mankind…"

"Okay, that is a vile and vicious stereotype and I resent that remark!"

"For example, here in Japan demons can either be benevolent tricksters like kitsune or savage brutes like oni. They increase in power throughout their lifetimes by gaining wisdom or devouring souls. Michelle referred to this demon as an 'elemental'…as far as I know, there's no such classification in Japan that fits his description…"

"I'm from Persia, okay?"

"Then, if it is as you say, he seeks to infect Mia as a form of procreation?" Miz asked. Mia blushed from that remark and rubbed the scars from Demon Ryo's attempt to infect her.

"I can't help it if she's hot. Can you just let me bite her and I'll be on my way?"

Mia narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. She rolled up the sleeves of her blouse and took a step towards the doorway. "Mia, he's immune to nut shots," Tanya reminded. Mia seethed and turned back around, folding her arms over her chest in a pout.

"If he is an energy-based entity…we might not need the other pychokinetics after all…" Miz muttered. Kayura glanced at the little Common, raising an eyebrow. "Remember that other being, Kai? That effort only required all three of you because of the urgency. But this entity possessing Ryo is contained; at our mercy…I think there's a solution readily available…"


Demon Ryo flicked a small fireball up and down in the air, catching it on his thumb and flipping it lazily like a coin. He raised an eyebrow and glanced to the side when he saw another Thunthen standing outside the containment cell. This one looked considerably older than Naz, with a graying-almost white-beard. Demon Ryo clenched the small fireball in his hand and quenched it then cocked his head. "You looking at something, Gertie?" he sneered.

"Just studying an unusual specimen. You remind me very much of a Redal," Tar Uhnin said.

"A what?" Demon Ryo laughed, baring his fangs.

"A Redal. They're a race we encountered in the Redali System in our explorations decades ago; organic-energy beings able to convert themselves from a light to a solid state at will. You share many similar characteristics…Almost like…" Tar started to say something then closed his mouth and drew himself up, continuing to regard Demon Ryo with scientific curiosity.

"Oh this is just rich…you think I'm an alien? Pfft…you people and your explanations…you can't just take something as it is. I forget...your kind don't believe in magic... Can't a demon just be a demon to you?" Demon Ryo snorted.

"And what, pray tell, is a 'demon'? Perhaps you could offer insight?" Tar queried.

"Heh…we're as old as time and as powerful as nature. We're bargainers and beguilers, defilers and deceivers, seducers and schemers… Men by nature seek power to overcome adversity…demons are just more readily willing to grant it."

"By corrupting your host, I warrant?"

"For crying out loud…I'm not 'corrupting' him! That's a stereotype, dammit! Man, and people call me vicious… For all you know, I could just be Ryo's…um…'indoor rock-hill', or whatever," Demon Ryo shrugged and waved a hand lazily.

"No." Demon Ryo glanced back at Tar, raising an eyebrow. "I do not believe you represent Ryo's Inner Self. If anything, you would be…the Emnnuuv; the Un-Self. The part of Ryo which should not and cannot be seen, and yet is still a part of him which without he could not exist. You represent his passions unchained..."

"…You say that like it's a bad thing," Demon Ryo closed his eyes, tilting his head to the side.

"Indeed, you are right." Demon Ryo glanced back at the elderly Nobeyl. "The Un-Self is neither 'good' nor 'evil' in the sense we commonly associate with. It is merely the antithesis of our outward selves. But, as I stated, you are neither an Emndourachil nor an Emnnuuv, for you are an external entity inhabiting Ryo, causing him to act against his will.

"Remember what I said about you being an energy being? It just so happens we have a device we can use to absorb that energy and convert it into an inert form. The Dekahedron should prove more than sufficient to contain you from now until the end of time…" Demon Ryo's eyes widened then narrowed in a scowl. "Ah, that upsets you. I can see it in your eyes. It won't be long now. Once Kayura devises the frequency needed to properly calibrate the Dekahedron, she can excise you like the vile parasite that you are…" Tar declared and grinned toothily.

Demon Ryo sat up abruptly and swung his legs to the side, leaning forward with his elbows against his knees. "You know what…I like you. I actually enjoyed this little conversation we had, but I don't have time to sit around waxing philosophical with you. I got places to go, things to do…people to see…" Demon Ryo said the last part with a grin. "I'll catch you on the flipside. Toodles!" he said cheerfully and waggled his claws at Tar before flame erupted from his body and concealed him. Tar shielded his eyes from the glow with the back of his hand, but when the glow subsided and he lowered his hand, he saw the containment cell completely empty.

"BHAZAAAAAAAK!" Tanya, Kayura, Mia, and Miz Paufan looked up from the Dekahedron crystals laid out on the conference table, startled upon hearing the Thunthen word meaning vast amounts of something hitting the fan. They ran outside into the main cavern where Naz Dassyr and It Tarmvun arrived to meet them along with a frantic Tar Uhnin.

"Tar, what happened? The containment cell is empty!" Naz demanded.

"He is gone! He was there and in an instant he-just vanished! But that cannot be! The cell was designed to be airtight save for the recirculation filter to provide oxygen-he couldn't have found an exit of any sort…unless…" Tar glanced over his shoulder, eyes wide. "He is capable of point-to-point teleportation! Without the need for line-of-sight or visual reference!"

"I didn't know he could do that! Whenever we fought him, he flew through the air as a fireball. That means…that means…" Tanya trailed off and looked from side to side.

"Outward-facing formation!" Naz Dassyr ordered. In unison, the four Thunthen surrounded Mia then turned around, enclosing her with their shells. Mia glanced at the large protruding spikes of Naz and Tar's shells and cringed away from the points, nervous.

"Gauraax Mia, stand close to us," Ita Tarmvun whispered. Mia glanced at her, startled upon hearing Ita refer to her in such a gracious manner. She moved close to her and Miz, who had smooth shells unlike the bulkier Nobeyl sires. Mia placed a hand on Miz's shell rim and glanced around nervously. Kayura held the Staff at the ready and Tanya held both clawnchers ready.

"…sooo…where is he?" Tanya asked, glancing from side to side.

"He merely bides his time. He may strike at any moment!" Naz exclaimed.

"No, you don't get it; the last time we encountered Demon Ryo, he mopped the floor with us! If he wanted to come after Mia, he would've done it already so…why hasn't he?" No one said anything right away, and even Kayura looked mystified. Mia cringed where she stood, even glancing up at the shorn stone ceiling of the main cavern. Her eyes widened in dawning horror.

"OH MY GOD! RYU!" she shrieked, raising a hand to her mouth.


Whiteblaze's ears flicked when he sensed something and he lifted his head up from between his forepaws, growling in warning. A black finger tipped with a thick claw pointed at him, and the urge to go back to sleep overwhelmed the tiger. The claw pointed downward, and Whiteblaze's head sank back onto the floor between his forepaws. With the tiger soundly asleep, the lean figure walked over to the crib, unchallenged.

Inside, nestled in soft fleece blankets, Ryu stirred and opened his brilliant green eyes. He looked up to see a shadowy form looming over his crib. Instead of crying, however, he began burbling excitedly and reached up with both stubby arms, grasping with his tiny hands. A black hand with thick claws reached down into the crib slowly, fingers splayed. Ryu wanted to sit up, but at his age he lacked the strength to move as freely and lay on his back innocently as the sharp claws moved closer, coming within inches of his stomach.

Ryu reached up with both hands, grasping one of the claw-tipped fingers and pulled himself up into a sitting position. He leaned forward and rest his cheek against the warm black skin. Another clawed hand reached out and gently patted the newborn on the head. "Hey there, little guy…" Demon Ryo spoke softly with Ryo's voice and smiled, tousling the reddish hair carefully. "I don't know what it is about you, but for some reason I can be myself when I'm close by. I guess the demon doesn't like being near you…" Ryu didn't understand what he said, of course, and cooed from the comforting heat of Demon Ryo's magma blood.

"I can't stay for long. There's no telling when the demon will take over again. I just want you to know that I love you, no matter what happens. I'll fight as hard as I can to beat this thing…and if I fail…you have to be strong for your mom, okay?" Demon Ryo moved to step away from the crib, but Ryu cried out in complaint and gripped the claw tight enough to cause Demon Ryo to take a step back. He glanced down at the newborn. "Whoa…you got such a strong grip for such a little guy!" Ryo's voice praised. He gently nudged Ryu's chin with his knuckle and stroked his cheek. The pointed black ears twitched and Demon Ryo looked over his shoulder when he heard a distant commotion; frantic voices and rapid footsteps.

"Listen, I have to go. Your mom and aunt will want to help me, but they can't. This is something I have to fight on my own. Don't worry! I'll do everything I can to come back, I promise! Goodbye, son…" Demon Ryo tickled Ryu in the stomach gently, and Ryu released his grip. Demon Ryo moved away from the crib and fire covered his body before subsiding quickly.

The door to the nursery flew open and Mia and Tanya ran inside to see the room empty of anyone else but Whiteblaze and Ryu. Mia grasped the rails of the crib and peered inside, surprised to see Ryu awake and sitting upright, since normally he slept at all hours save for nursing. Tanya knelt down to examine Whiteblaze, who did not wake from his slumber.

"He was definitely here," Tanya noticed a scorch mark on the carpet next to the crib. "Knocked out poor Whiteblaze…how's Ryu?" she asked and stood back up.

"He's fine…I wonder…" Mia picked up Ryu and held him infront of her, scrutinizing her baby boy. "Ryu…was your father here? Did you see him? Do you know where he went?" Ryu began burbling innocently and squirmed, averting his gaze. "Come on Ryu. You know it's not nice to hide things from your mother. Where is your father?"

"Mia, he's just a baby. He isn't even a month old yet," Tanya remarked, exasperated.

"He's my son, Tanya. He knows more than you think," Mia stated firmly and narrowed her eyes. She'd been too exhausted after the effort to witness what Ryo had; the opening of Ryu's eyes, but she felt for a fact her baby had emerged into the world significantly 'ahead of the curve' in contrast to other babies. Mia noticed how the boy seemed to deliberately avoid glancing at the window. She glanced from him to the window, frowning. "He's outside…isn't he? He went into the forest…to protect us, is that it?" Ryu squirmed and complained. "Tanya, tell Kayura and get her to raise Rowen. He has a better chance of tracking down Ryo in his state."

"Okay, since apparently you trust the baby…" Tanya muttered and threw up her hands before exiting the nursery. Mia cradled Ryu in her arms and rocked him from side to side.

"Oh Ryu…I hope your father can stand up to that awful beast…He's trying so hard to fight, and all we can do is hope that he wins…" Mia whispered. Ryu didn't seem very worried, though.


"You got yourself a very special boy, there. He's strong…" the demonic voice commented.

"Really? I'm surprised you didn't try to eat him," Ryo's voice grumbled. Demon Ryo currently walked along a wooded path deep in the forest. He came to a stop and folded his arms.

"Again with the stereotypes. You know, back in my day, demons weren't just 'evil'. We were adversaries, rivals. The goody two-shoes hero can't be a hero without something to fight. We're just part of the natural order. Free will doesn't exist without a choice," the demon argued.

"Oh, so you're giving me a choice? Well guess what, I don't want to become a demon!"

"Well, you wouldn't be a 'full' demon. Technically you'd be a half-demon. There's a difference," the demonic voice reasoned and Demon Ryo continued walking. "I know what you're doing…you're doing that thing where you go off on your own and try to face your foe without the help of your friends. It's not going to work, you know. Never has in the past."

"Will you just shut up already and go away? I already said 'no'! How many times do I have to tell you I don't need or want you inside me-how the heck do you talk with these things!" Demon Ryo raised his claws to his mouth and his lips peeled up over his gums. The fangs protruded slightly over the rest of his teeth, resting against his gums when closed. "I swear, I feel like I'm going to bite myself at some point…" Ryo's voice commented.

"You're not seeing the bigger picture here. How many times have you gotten your butt kicked with the world at stake? You can't keep relying on 'faith' or 'friends' to pull your fat out of the fire all the time, 'xcuse the pun… Here, let me show you." Demon Ryo raised one hand and spat into the palm. A globe of fire formed and he flung it at a felled tree. The flames spread slowly due to the moisture-laden rotting bark, but eventually consumed the entire trunk. He held a hand raised, focusing on containing the fire and preventing it from spreading. Within minutes, the fire had reduced the trunk to smoldering white ashes. "Think of what you could do with this power…you could completely dominate your enemies."

"No! I won't use that kind of destructive power!"

"You're a right idiot, you know. It's nothing different from what you do with your armor, only I'm much stronger. Ever hear of Mt. St. Helens? Picturesque dormant volcano that erupted decades ago and completely obliterated its surroundings? All that green smothered by fire and ash…well it's back, and better than ever! Fire formed this world since the beginning of time. You only think of fire destroying, but it also creates. The ash from this dead tree will become soil in time and nourish new trees. You're just calling me evil because you're afraid of thinking outside the box. We're the same, and you know it!"

"No…no…I can't…I won't!" Ryo's voice argued desperately.

"You are one hard sell, I'll give you that. Here, let me show you something else…" Demon Ryo reached up to his neck with one hand. He dug his claws into the flesh and pulled down sharply, tearing five huge gashes in the skin. Demon Ryo gasped as magma blood spurted out of the seemingly mortal wound. He clamped both hands over it to staunch the blood flow.

"W-What are you t-trying to do? K-Kill us b-both?"

"Wait and see…" Demon Ryo winced from the pain but kept his hands clamped tight over the gashes. He slowly pulled his hand away and hardened lava crust flaked off of his palms and neck, revealing smooth unbroken skin. He looked at his hands, amazed. "This way you can heal yourself, even from fatal wounds. You can heal others just the same. Think of how many lives you can save with this kind of power…" the demonic voice purred enticingly.

"You always struggle to protect your friends and family. Why not end that struggle? You could protect them easily with my help. Together, we could make sure nothing ever harms your loved ones ever again…" In his mind, Ryo saw images of himself standing amid a field of his broken foes, clad in armor and triumphant. Only, Ryo did not see himself as a noble, virtuous warrior…but a black-skinned flame-haired horror. "You'd be a walking force of nature!"

"No…I don't want to be feared…I don't to lose who I am!"

"Such a vain fool…you cling to your humanity out of futile principle?"

"It isn't vanity, it's love! If…if I let you become me, this is what people will see." Demon Ryo looked down at his clawed hands. "If Ryo Sanada becomes Demon Ryo, the person people loved and cared about will no longer exist. I won't sacrifice who I am for power!"

"You're still not listening to me. You don't have to-"

"Shut up! Shut up! Get out! OUUUUT!" Demon Ryo shrieked and his body erupted in flame once more. He appeared on the pier by the lake house and gazed out over the glistening waters. "You make it sound like you're invincible, but I know your weakness; you're vulnerable to water! An enemy could throw a bucket at me and it would weaken me!" Demon Ryo took a step towards the pier, but the second step came jerkily and labored.

"What are you doing? Stop!"

"You tried your hardest to convince me, but I'm not buying. Power won't solve my problems. It's the struggle, trying against all odds that makes us who we are! I don't need you, I don't need your power! Now leave my body, or else I'll make you!" Inside Ryo's mind, he wrestled with his demonic double the same as earlier, only this time they seemed evenly matched.

"Don't be a fool! You'll need me before the end!" the fire demon argued.

"You're wrong. You're the one who needs me! You can't take physical form in this world without a host. You're weak, and I can be strong without you," Ryo Sanada snarled. The demon made an angry screeching growl that sounded more like the indignant whine of a child. "What's wrong, afraid now that I caught on to your plans? I don't need to be strong to beat my enemies. I'm already strong, because of love! Because of my friends, my family. They give me strength, not you, NEVER YOU!" The fire demon's eyes glowed brightly, and Ryo briefly saw a form different than his own twisted visage; a lithe black form with a large flaring red mane and a short muzzle-like mouth. "I'd rather die Ryo Sanada than live as Demon Ryo!"

Demon Ryo staggered step by step towards the end of the pier. "No, please, stop! You don't know what you're doing! Think about it! Think about what we could do together!"

"I have thought about it, and my choice is no. I reject you, Arnurhazaedron! I reject you! Now GET OUT OF MY BODY!" Ryo howled and Demon Ryo hurled himself into the lake. The water erupted with steam. Under the surface, the creature called Demon Ryo slowly sank, the water touching its skin boiling and frothing as the magma blood began cooling. The flame-red hair drifted in the current as his stiffening body sank beneath the waves.

He could hear voices in his mind, memories of his friends and family calling him by name. He opened his eyes a crack. The water beneath the pier erupted as a steaming black hand reached up and grabbed the edge of the dock. Another hand burst out and with great effort, Demon Ryo pulled himself from the water and onto the wood planks. His body scraped, sounding like stone, and he lay down on his stomach. Steam rose from his sodden clothing as water quickly evaporated. His eyes remained closed at first.

"Okay…*cough* you've made your point…" Demon Ryo hacked, burping up a cloud of steam. His eyes fluttered open slowly. "You're one tough customer…I like you. You're the strongest host I've ever encountered. I've gotten a taste of you, Ryo Sanada, and I like it. I'll leave you be…for now… But mark my words…" the demonic voice chuckled weakly. "I'll be back for you. I'll come when you least expect it…and when I do…I'll make you an offer you can't refuse…" Demon Ryo let his breath out in a long sigh. Red mist rose from his body, and in the process black skin faded to healthy human flesh. The claws receded into blunt fingernails, the hair darkened into black and the fangs shrank into normal-sized canines. The mist hovered over Ryo Sanada's body and seemed to form a gaping fanged mouth that hissed angrily before drifting away into the forest. Ryo lay on the dock, limp and weary.

Ryo coughed several times and rolled onto his side. He struggled to move his hands under himself to push himself off the planks. He paused and looked at his hand, smiling to see it without black skin or black claws. He chuckled softly, tears of joy leaking from his eyes.

"Ryo! Ryo! You did it! You kicked it out!"

"R-Rowen?" Ryo whispered and propped himself up on one elbow. He looked up as a blue-and-silver armored form landed next to him.

"You pulled through! I heard and saw the whole thing! I thought about swooping in, but it sounded like you two were hashing it out big time. I thought you'd gone nuts dunking yourself in the lake, but as soon as I dove down you came back up and changed back to normal," Rowen draped Ryo's left arm over his shoulder and helped him stand. "Is it gone? For good this time?"

"Yeah…it's gone…" Ryo nodded, wondering if Rowen had heard that faint promise the fire demon had made before it departed. "It was hard, though…what he said sounded like it made so much sense…but I just knew deep down it felt wrong. I feel awful though…I came so close to giving in to temptation and merging with him…"

"It's even better that you didn't. C'mon, I'll take you home." Ryo's body shuddered as he let out a violent sneeze. "Whoops. Looks like the demon left, but that cold of yours didn't."

"Yeah…and you know what that means…" Ryo grumbled.

"What?" Rowen raised an eyebrow. Ryo sniffled and glanced at him.

"More of that stupid tea…" he snorted weakly. Rowen burst out laughing and teleport rings formed. Ryo frowned, once more thinking about the demon's parting warning. Then he dismissed the thought from his mind. He had a wife and child to return to.