I'm back. Sorry about the seriously sporadic updating but I've been rushed off my feet with A-levels. You'll be happy to know that the next chapter of An Ending at the Begining will be out soon, hopefully.

The group stared helplessly at the young-looking white haired demon as his personal guard swept from the shadows, taking up positions around them. Yukariko and Nao moved into defensive positions. Nina followed suit whilst Erstin drew back to Chie and Aoi, all three unable to fight. Shizuru tensed slightly and the bands the circled Natsuki's wrists that contained her custom gun spell began to glow dangerously.

Nagi smirked at the meagre display of resistance.

"I must congratulate you Chie, I never imagined you'd leave a summoner behind at the bridge. Nor did I imagine you'd allow the group to split. I've got men hunting your friends down as we speak, but all the same… well done, Cousin," Nagi chuckled before glancing up. A bruised and battered Sergey staggered into the room. His knee bandaged where Nagi shot him and blood streaming from an assortment of fresh wounds. His eyes fell on Nina and he paled at the look of fury on her face. She looked as if she could leap across and kill him where he stood.

Nagi's face curled up in a half snarl half sneer.

"You Idiot, you let them get away. Curse you," he muttered. Around him the guard tensed, ready to leap at their masters command.

"Never mind, we have Chie, that's enough for now but mark this Sergey, your failure will not go unpunished," Nagi stood and clapped his hands. Several demons marched to the front.

"Let us be leaving, secure our prisoners," he barked. The demons he had summoned began to set up a gate, an official entrance to the void that male demons could set up with the permission of the Obsidian Lord.

His guard streamed forward and those that could leapt into action. Aoi set up defence spells and trap spells but the demons were great in number and, still haemorrhaging soldiers, ran forward into the broad sweep of Shizuru's Naginata and the rest of the groups assorted weapons. Nina produced some daggers to throw, each deadly accurate. Natsuki blasted away with her guns, wincing every so often at the pain in her arm. Yukariko fired her Bow and Nao sliced her enemies to pieces with metallic wire that extended from her claws. All that could be heard was the screams of Nagi's guard as they were slaughtered. Seeing that her spells were no longer having any effect Aoi looked desperately around for a weapon. Beside her Chie's sword materialized into her hand.

"You can't fight," hissed Aoi. Chie smiled weakly and said nothing but handed her the sword. Aoi stared and then grinned at her, resisting the urge to kiss her.

"Keep Chie safe Erstin," she commanded and leapt into the fray, ducking, weaving and slicing as only those who have gained most of their sword skills from a mind link can.

Despite their initial success however they couldn't hold out forever and one by one they fell exhausted. Nagi stepped forward, a smirk on his youthful face.

"I must say, you've done better than expected, now enough of this, let's leave,"

They were duly seized and dragged brutally into the gate with only the knowledge that their friends had escaped capture to comfort them.

Yukino was been carried by Haruka after being struck in the leg by mid-level fire spell but apart from that the only other wounds were superficial and did not hold the group back in any way.

"So that was the infamous Northern Hound," mused Midori. Beside Youko nodded.

"He wasn't very clever was he?" pointed out Shiho as they took a left. Tate looked amused as he recalled the way the luckless werewolf had looked when a single blast from Shiho's flute had annihilated his demon squad. After that Miyu had flattened him with no trouble at all.

Yukino chuckled, apparently remembering.

"We can't be complacent. We must assume that the others have been captured, we must hurry," Miyu's words hit them and the mood darkened as they prayed their friends would make it through this ordeal alive and not seriously injured.

Suddenly a vast cavern opens up before them and the magic of the place hits them. It was ancient and terrifyingly powerful it permeated the room.

The stared at what was causing it. Five huge columns stretched into the blackness over their heads. Miyu picked up Alyssa and placed her on her back before leaping from the ridge they were standing on. Haruka followed suite and soon the rest had. Once on the ground the Five columns looked even more imposing than on the ridge. Five vast and tall columns stretching into the endless darkness above them each glowed with a eerie green light. Midori hissed through her teeth.

"Damn," she said. The rest of the group stared in silence. Each one overwhelmed with the power pouring from the columns, even in their sealed state they could level the capitol city of the demon world with no trouble. Four demons and four summoners would barely even register.

Midori gritted her teeth.

"Oi, wake up we need to talk,"

Nagi smiled as his captives were dragged to the throne room. His smile broadened when he saw that it's walls had been bathed with the blood of Kannzaki's commanders. Kannzaki himself was bound and on his knees, his handsome faced battered. Nagi schooled his expression and strode past him towards the throne. He turned and sat down.

He stared at the people that populated it. All nine prisoners had been forced to their knees, although Chie - Curse the girl - was fighting even as injured as she was. Despite his hard work he found his smile as wide as before.

"I have won," he said. Kannzaki raised his head and glared at him mutely in hatred.

"Don't look at me like that cousin, after all usurping the throne is this families favourite pastime. Oh, I get it your frustrated, you went to all that trouble…," Nagi paused and caught Kannzaki's eye.

"You even had Bruce killed to get the throne,"

Hope you've enjoyed it.

AnimeGeek.