A/N: Hey everyone sorry to leave you hanging on that last chapter for so long. I know that cliff hanger was angering a few people. I have been so busy with the first draft of it that I forgot to update. Luckily for all of you my friend kept reminding me that I need to update and I found the time to work on my typing. I also figured out paragraphs! So for all of you who are real big in English, this must be a heaven sent skill for me to have figured out. Sorry if it isn't as good as it should be. Keep in mind, I'm not a scholar. Well, enough of me! Here is the next chapter!
With her new spirits and motivation, Rirī had killed only half of the demon army. Of course, she could tell any difference; she hadn't moved. She remained at the gate, demons practically lined up to challenge her. She'd take on ten at once, receive mostly minor injuries, and the next ten would immediately advance. Sometimes shed look up and still see Youko trying to lose the demons set on his trail in the mountains. She worried for him, but mostly, she worried for herself.
'There isn't any way I can finish off the rest of this army. I'm going to die fighting the next quarter and then the people of this town will panic, give up and die.' She thought.
Ten more advanced, one wielding a huge sword that cut into her shoulder. After a cry of pain, she leapt up and beheaded him. The sun was rising, turning the sky many magnificent colors. The dominant color though was red, blood red, but Rirī was certain it was just her. Most of the people guarding the gate had left; too tired to watch Rirī fight any longer, assuming that she would be killed any second now anyway. But the swordswoman fought on. Blisters formed on her hands where she was holding her sword. Some time ago she forgot about her pain, and she feared it was a sign that she was going mad.
'I've never felt so betrayed in all my life. Because it is me these demons are here for, Tataraba has locked me out. It's my problem; I should have to deal with it. But they do not understand that if I die, the demons will feed on their townspeople. That's why I fight, why I haven't dropped from exhaustion. They will all be killed.' She thought. She looked up and saw a few people who were curious on the outcome. Quickly she turned her focus back to fighting. 'Yet they sit and watch me fight for my life like an animal. Even my 'adopted parents' have decided to silently watch me fight with their uncaring eyes. I never want to step foot in that town again, promise or no promise. It's really sad how this turned out. I really didn't lie to Youko. My life holds no value to anyone, aside from him. The proof that he cares is all around me, fighting me. If he didn't care, not a single demon would be here. So if he values my life, then I will as well.'
A demon took her by surprise, leaping forward and thrusting his claws into her side. Demons roared in victory.
"She's done for!" Someone said from the gate.
"We got her!" The demons cheered.
Rirī looked up and glared at them, cutting off the demon's arm and then its head.
"I'm not dead yet." She panted.
She lunged forward and attacked again. Roars of disappointment echoed throughout the valley, but it only made Rirī grin, and she took this as another sign that she was going mad. She continued her fight, sometimes losing her footing and slipping in her own blood, but she stayed firm. It was nearly noon when she reached the last ten, but her strength was spent. She leaned heavily against her sword, looking up at the monstrous demons before her through half lidded eyes.
"The others were merely pawns to exhaust your energy. We are the ones you should have saved your strength for." The tallest one said.
He bore an axe twice Rirī's size and she decided it would be best to rush in and kill him quickly before he had a chance to swing. She weakly took a stance, but cried out and held her left arm she had more than reopened its wound.
"I don't have time for you to whine. Just kill her so we can eat and get out of here." The leader said.
Five of the huge demons came at her and she used her right arm to grip her sword, swinging it about her in a circle motion, killing all five at once.
"How did you have the strength to do that, human?" the leader yelled.
Rirī felt something new stir in her soul. Following instinct, she dropped her sword and took a fighting stance, causing the lead demon to laugh.
"Cocky, aren't you, girl? Going to fight us without any weapons?" he asked, his voice mocking her.
Rirī glared at him weakly.
'I have some sort of strange power inside me. Whatever it is, I can only use one blast of it. That's it. After that, I don't think I will be able to survive.' She thought.
She looked up and made an orb of pure energy in her hands.
"Whoa, wait a second! She can use Spirit Energy?" a demon asked, sounding frightened.
"Yomi didn't mention anything about Spirit Energy!" another cried.
"It doesn't matter; she'll only kill herself faster. Attack!" the leader yelled.
Rirī braced herself, ready to release this new power on these demons when a flash of silver caught her attention. Youko was injured and about to be taken by his pursuers. Knowing she owed him for saving her life not too long ago, she fired her orb of Energy at the demons that were cornering him and hit, killing them instantly. The demons cornering her stared in shock at the explosion in the mountain behind them then back at her, laughing.
"So sweet; a last attempt to save your precious lover, how typical of a human." The leader said.
Completely drained, Rirī fell down, landing on her knees in the pool of her blood. She numbly held her sword in the fingertips of her right hand.
'There is no logic to why I am alive. But if I can, I'll kill these demons, and then get out of here.' She decided.
All four demons came at her at once, their leader staying behind lazily. She gripped her sword and moved to get up, but her injuries finally got the best of her, not allowing her to move an inch without making her cry out in pain. One of the demons advancing on her stopped the others.
"Look at the poor girl, can't even get up." He mocked.
He knelt before her and grabbed her chin, but she was too weak to fight his grip.
"Look at that pretty face. I'm glad it wasn't touched so I could break it myself." He chuckled.
His fist slammed across her face, Rirī whimpering in pain.
"So pretty. You guys let me have this one. She smells good enough to eat; the others even bled her out for Me." he purred, licking her blood from his hand.
The others nodded and left, seeing no point in fighting over a practically dead human.
"Alone at last." He said, claws digging into her jaw.
Rirī cried out in pain and her hand tightened on her sword and she managed to decapitate him. The other four demons saw this, roaring in rage, running back towards her. She tried once again to rise to her feet, but screamed in pain and fell onto her knees again. As the demons ran up, they laughed at her failed attempt. They were about to attack when a flash of silver zipped in front of Rirī, stopping the demons with one slash from his rose whip.
"Rirī, these demons are far below my skill, you should have been able to defeat them easily." Youko scolded, turning his whip back into a rose again.
The strong scent of blood hit him and he whirled around, gasping at the severity of her wounds. Rirī gave him a weak smile.
"Little things add up." She said, panting.
Youko knelt next to her, a hand coming to her face in comfort; avoiding the gashes where the demon's claws had pierced her skin.
"Rirī, I'm so sorry." He whispered.
"It's not your fault. I don't blame you at all. I blame this town for my wounds, and never want to see it again." She said and she went to try to stand again but Youko stopped her.
"Don't move, you've lost too much blood." He said. "I saw how many demons there were. I hope you and Tataraba fared well against them."
"Tataraba stopped fighting as soon as I arrived to aid them, locking me out and letting me fight alone." Rirī said, her voice angry.
Youko's eyes narrowed.
"You killed all of these demons alone? No wonder you look like Hell Rirī, you should be dead!" He exclaimed, his voice angry, but there was sadness there as well that made
Rirī's heart ache.
"I tried to help you too." She said.
Youko looked at her worriedly.
"You mean that huge blast of Energy that saved my life? You produced that?" He asked.
She nodded and fell forward due to dizziness and blood loss, Youko quickly catching her and holding her close.
"Damn you, Rirī. Didn't you realize that saving me meant you could've died?" He asked softly.
"Yes. But you saved my life once, and I want you to live Youko." She said.
Finally, she dropped from exhaustion and fainted. Youko held her tight and picked her up, carrying her away from Tataraba.